Mexico officially launched the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening ceremony, held before the Mexico vs. South Africa match, featured a star-studded lineup including Shakira, J Balvin, and Salma Hayek to celebrate the tournament’s expanded 48-team format.
The Estadio Azteca serves as a landmark in football history, having previously hosted the FIFA World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. The stadium’s selection as the site for the 2026 launch underscores its long-standing role in the global game.
Shakira and Maná Kick Off the Musical Celebration
The festivities began with the Mexican rock group Maná, who opened the ceremony with their signature style and the song “Oye mi amor.” Following the rock opening, the event transitioned into a high-energy showcase of Latin music designed to connect with a global, younger audience.
In previous tournament openings, FIFA has used musical lineups to showcase the host nation’s cultural identity. By blending established rock groups with contemporary pop and urban artists, the ceremony aimed to introduce the regional heritage of Mexico to an international audience.
According to reporting from los40.com, the lineup featured several major international stars. Shakira led the musical segment with the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai,” performing alongside Burna Boy.
- Shakira and Burna Boy: “Dai Dai”
- J Balvin: A salsa remix of “I Like IT” with Major Lazer
- Belinda: “Por ella,” performing with Los Ángeles Azules
- Danny Ocean: “Partidazo”
- Maná: “Oye mi amor”
Alejandro Fernández Performs the National Anthem
As players from Mexico and South Africa prepared for the Group A match, Alejandro Fernández took the stage to perform the Mexican National Anthem. The performance took place in a packed Estadio Azteca, also referred to in reports as the Estadio Ciudad de México.
For more on this story, see Switzerland 1-1 Australia in World Cup Final Prep Match.
The performance of national anthems is a standard protocol in international football, intended to honor the host country and the competing teams. These moments are used to recognize the national identity of the participants before the start of play.
Yahoo en Español reported that the crowd responded with intense emotion, with many spectators standing with their hands over their hearts as the anthem played. The performance was noted for its lyrical accuracy, a detail highlighted in contrast to previous instances where performers have modified the official text.
Andrea Bocelli and the Debut of the FIFA Anthem
The ceremony moved toward a global focus with the premiere of “DNA,” the official anthem of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed the track, appearing on stage in a wine-colored suit.
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The introduction of an official anthem is a tradition used by FIFA to create a recognizable musical identity for the tournament. These works are intended to provide a sense of unity among the participating nations and the global fan base.
There were slight variations in how the performance’s collaborators were identified across outlets. While Yahoo en Español identified Ejae as a participant, other reports indicated the collaboration included David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion.
A New Format for the 2026 World Cup
This tournament represents a historic shift for the FIFA World Cup, marking the first time the event is hosted across three nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The competition has also expanded to a 48-team format.
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The expansion to 48 teams is a significant structural change that increases the number of participating nations and the total number of matches played during the tournament. This shift requires a broader distribution of games across a larger number of host cities and venues to accommodate the increased scale of the competition.
The multi-nation hosting model involves complex logistical coordination between FIFA and the national football federations of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This collaboration is necessary to manage tournament operations, travel, and infrastructure across three different sovereign borders.
While the opening festivities were centered in Mexico City, TV Azteca noted that the United States and Canada are scheduled to hold their own opening ceremonies on June 12. The tournament’s expanded scale and multi-country hosting set the stage for a high-stakes summer of football.
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