2026 World Cup Opens in Mexico City With Shakira

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-06-12

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off in Mexico City on Thursday, with a colorful opening ceremony at the iconic Azteca Stadium. Tens of thousands of fans packed the 82,000-seat venue to witness the tournament's start. This marks the first time Mexico has hosted the World Cup in 40 years. Global pop star Shakira headlined the performances. She appeared in a white skirt and yellow mesh top alongside a group of dancers. Colombian artist J Balvin, Afrobeats star Burna Boy, Latin singer Danny Ocean, and Mexican rock band Maná's Fher Olvera also took the stage. Opera legend Andrea Bocelli and K-Pop singer Ejae performed the tournament's official anthem, "DNA." South African Grammy-winner Tyla sang her nation's anthem ahead of the opening match. Performers wore indigenous Mexican clothing and carried giant golden footballs, celebrating the country's cultural diversity. Mexican Air Force helicopters flew over the stadium trailing the national flag. Fireworks lit up the sky in the colors of the Mexican tricolor. ### Mexico Wins Opening Match Against South Africa After the ceremony, Mexico delivered exactly what the home crowd came for — a 2-0 victory over South Africa in Group A. The result sent the stadium into celebrations and set a confident tone for the host nation's campaign. They are sharing this tournament with the United States and Canada. Fan Javier Pérez, who attended with his family, told the BBC it was a moment he would never forget. He described it as a unique experience. He expressed hope that Mexico would keep winning as the tournament progresses. The US and Canada are also hosting their own opening ceremonies on Friday. Los Angeles is set to see performances from Katy Perry, Future, Lisa, Anitta, and Tyla, who is making a second appearance after her Mexico City showing. ### Protests and Security Clashes Outside the Azteca Not everything outside the stadium was festive. Sporadic violent clashes broke out between police and protesters before and during the ceremony. Mexican officials said nearly 200 hooded individuals broke away from larger protest groups and clashed with law enforcement. This temporarily shut down nearby metro stations. Teachers and families of victims of Mexico's ongoing drug war also marched separately. They used the global attention on their country to highlight unresolved social issues. The heavy security presence around the venue ultimately kept the situation from escalating further. The matches proceeded without major incident inside the stadium. ### A Tournament 40 Years in the Making for Mexico Mexico last hosted the World Cup in 1986. The return of the tournament carries enormous national significance. The renovated Azteca Stadium, one of football's most historic venues, served as the backdrop for what organizers described as a celebration of diversity, heritage, and the universal language of football. - 48 teams are competing across three host nations this year. - This is the largest World Cup in history. - Mexico's opening win has given the home nation early momentum. With a nation of passionate fans, there's every reason to keep watching. The energy in the stadium was electric. You could feel the hope and pride in the air. For many, this was a dream come true. The tournament is just getting started, and Mexico has already made a statement.