Colombian music icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy are set to perform the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11.
The highly anticipated performance will take place at the historic Estadio Azteca ahead of the opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa, marking one of the headline moments of the global football competition.
The two internationally acclaimed artistes will perform Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in front of thousands of spectators and a worldwide television audience.
FIFA announced the performance as part of its plans to celebrate the start of the month-long tournament, describing the song as a reflection of football’s ability to bring people together across different cultures, nations, and backgrounds.
According to FIFA, Dai Dai embodies the passion, excitement and global spirit associated with the World Cup. The title, derived from an Italian expression meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” is expected to feature prominently throughout the competition and form a key part of the opening ceremony’s entertainment programme.
The announcement was reported by BBC Sport on Friday and has already generated excitement among football fans and music lovers worldwide. FIFA said it deliberately chose artistes whose influence extends beyond their respective regions, noting that both Shakira and Burna Boy have built international careers capable of connecting with audiences across continents.
“We wanted a song that captures the energy, passion, and global spirit of the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement announcing the performance.
The football governing body added that Shakira and Burna Boy represent two of the most influential voices in global music and are well-positioned to deliver a memorable opening ceremony performance.
The opening ceremony will also feature appearances from other major international stars. Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla are scheduled to perform as part of the entertainment lineup before the tournament officially gets underway.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, will include multiple opening celebrations spread across the host nations.
In Canada, singers Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are expected to headline festivities ahead of Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.
In the United States, American pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future will perform before the country’s opening fixture against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The series of performances forms part of FIFA’s broader effort to showcase cultural diversity and global entertainment alongside football’s biggest event.
For Burna Boy, the performance represents another major milestone in his growing international career. The Grammy-winning Nigerian artiste has become one of Africa’s most recognised musical exports, regularly performing on some of the world’s biggest stages and collaborating with globally renowned entertainers.
Shakira’s appearance will further strengthen her long-standing association with the FIFA World Cup. The Colombian superstar previously achieved worldwide success with World Cup-themed songs including Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) and La La La, both of which became global hits and remain closely associated with the tournament.
Beyond the opening ceremony, Shakira is also expected to play a major role in the competition’s closing celebrations. She is scheduled to perform at the World Cup final on July 19, where she will co-headline the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show alongside pop legend Madonna and globally acclaimed K-pop group BTS.
The performances are expected to add another layer of entertainment to what is anticipated to be one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
