Shakira and Burna Boy Shine at World Cup Opening Ceremony

Colombian pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeat star Burna Boy performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The ceremony highlighted the tournament's significance, featuring performances from Mexican music royalty, including Alejandro Fernandez, Lila Downs, and Belinda.

Dancers twirled around a giant replica of the World Cup trophy as fireworks lit up the stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000 and has been renovated for this tournament. This marks the third time Mexico has hosted the World Cup, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.

The 2026 tournament will be historic as it expands to 48 teams and will be co-hosted by the United States and Canada, featuring a total of 104 matches. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was celebratory, although outside, thousands of fans faced disorder as they attempted to enter the official fan zone, leading to clashes with police.

Among the substitutes for the tournament was 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, making him the youngest player in the event.