Shakira, Andrea Bocelli, Kpop Demon Hunters’ Ejae and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek lit up the World Cup opening ceremony ahead of Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa on Thursday (Jun 11). And there were a couple of Labubus, too.Shakira performed Dai Dai, the tournament's official song, with Burna Boy. The Colombian star had a hit with Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and now seeks to score again.A good World Cup song, Shakira earlier told The Associated Press, “needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs.”
Shakira performs during the opening ceremony before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Shakira has performed at previous World Cups, too: 2006 in Germany, 2010 in South Africa, and 2014 in Brazil.In addition, she will perform at the first halftime show of a World Cup final on Jul 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with Madonna and BTS. Mexico, the United States and Canada are co-hosting the 48-team tournament.A WELCOME FOR ALLLila Downs welcomed fans and players in Spanish, English, and the indigenous languages Mixtec and Nahuatl.“People of the world, welcome to Mexico,” said Downs, who wore a white indigenous huipil with a lilac edge. “Mexico welcomes you with smiles from our heart, we are a nation of diversity, heritage and pride in ancestral lands where movement and ritual spirit endure.”Downs, who is a singer-songwriter, was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca. Her mother is Mixtec, and her father was American of Scottish descent. But her heart is green, white and red when it comes to the ball.“It’s a great honour for me to represent my beautiful and diverse country,” Downs said in an interview with The AP. “Of course I’m going to root for Mexico’s team, Viva Mexico!”MANA THRILLS FANSMana electrified the stadium with Oye Mi Amor surrounded by pre-Hispanic dancers who moved their head plumes to the rhythm of rock while tens of thousands of fans chanted.The band, founded in 1986, has sold more than 40 million records.Shortly before their performance, they announced that they will be touring in Latin America, including stops in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City.FROM IZTAPALAPA TO THE WORLD CUPThe Mexican cumbia group Los Angeles Azules performed Por Ella with Belinda, one of the most danceable songs of FIFA's official World Cup album.The band, founded in the mid-70s by the Mejía Avante brothers, is originally from the district of Iztapalapa, a working-class area of Mexico City, so their battle cry is “From Iztapalapa to the world!”J Balvin had a dynamic performance – he started driving a cardboard car with Que Calor and then he was accompanied by Ryan Castro for Una A La Vez before ending with I Like It, a hit he originally released with Cardi B and Bad Bunny.The Colombian star has experience on world stages. In 2020, he participated in the Super Bowl halftime as a guest of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.Danny Ocean performed Partidazo – his collaboration for the FIFA album. Ocean was surrounded by dancers wearing a modern take on the traditional dresses of the Mexican state of Jalisco, modified to have hoodies on top.Two Labubus could be seen wearing soccer jerseys after the presentation of Los Angeles Azules and Belinda. One brown Labubu wore a jersey with the number 10 and the legend “The Monsters” and the other wore a shirt with the logo of the 2026 World Cup.HOLLYWOOD POWER AT THE CEREMONY
