Editor’s note: Follow along live for 2026 World Cup opener In Mexico City!
The 2026 World Cup begins with a star-studded opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca before Mexico faces South Africa in the opening match on Thursday, June 11.
Shakira and Burna Boy will perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 tournament while Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla are also set to play a role in the festivities.
Here’s a playback of the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup games in Mexico City featuring performers including Shakira, Burna Boy, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
J Balvin performance
Shakira, Burna Boy performance
The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca began with a production inspired by Mexico’s ancestral heritage.
The show opened with a giant golden sphere that symbolically transformed into the World Cup trophy, accompanied by a welcome message to the world delivered in both Spanish and English. The production featured visual elements tied to Aztec culture and the identity of the host nation.
Following the ceremonial portion of the event, Maná took the stage to launch the musical celebration. Danny Ocean followed moments later, with Los Ángeles Azules getting the crowd dancing with their signature cumbia sound. J Balvin then raised the energy inside the stadium with a performance of his hit song “Qué Calor.”
The finale was reserved for Shakira and Burna Boy, who performed the official song of the 2026 World Cup. Their appearance added a strong African influence to the ceremony, a nod to Mexico’s opponent in the opening match and to the global nature of the tournament.
The celebration concluded with a fireworks display in the colors of the Mexican flag — green, white and red — illuminating the skies above Mexico City and bringing a festive evening to a close before kickoff of the tournament’s opening match. – Boris Balsindes Urquiola, USA TODAY
USA TODAY Sports is on the grounds live in Mexico City as fans arrive for the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and later the match between Mexico and South Africa.
Protests have began to spill out as fans made their arrivals. Watch it live on USA TODAY Sports’ YouTube channel:
USA TODAY Sports gets on the ground to find out the reason that’s sparked residents’ protests in Mexico City during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games.
Residents protesting World Cup in Mexico City, calls government corrupt
Thousands are using the World Cup event in Mexico City to protest what they are calling corruption in the Mexican government. Special to USA TODAY.
Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup games and opening ceremony on Fubo
Thursday’s World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET – 90 minutes before kickoff of the Mexico-South Africa match.
Mexico is up first with its opening ceremonies on June 11. Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda and Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Tyla, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Shakira, Burna Boy and Danny Ocean are slated to perform at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
- June 11 vs. South Africa – 3 p.m. ET, Mexico City – BUY TICKETS
- June 18 vs. South Korea – 9 p.m. ET, Guadalajara – BUY TICKETS
- June 24 vs. Czechia – 9 p.m. ET, Mexico City – BUY TICKETS
Where is the World Cup being held? And what should you do when you visit each of the 16 cities? We have you covered!
Group A (Mexico) | Group B | Group C | Group D (USMNT) | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L
The World Cup inauguration festivities begin at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Thursday’s opening ceremony is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. Central time .
El Tri has never won the World Cup and the team’s best-ever finish was a trip to the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986 – both tournaments hosted by Mexico.
Thursday’s World Cup opener is behind held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the famed venue that hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals and underwent massive renovations ahead of the 2026 tournament.
