Shakira and Burna Boy kick off World Cup 2026 party as opening ceremony gets tournament underway in style | OneFootball

World Cup begins with star-studded opening ceremony in Mexico City before joint hosts win dramatic first game

Shakira and Burna Boy kicked off the World Cup with a performance at the spectacular opening ceremony in Mexico.

The Colombian singer performed Dai Dai - or ‘Let’s Go’ - the official World Cup song, alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy ahead of the opening fixture in Mexico City.

Shakira performs during the Opening Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Mexico and South Africa

Mexico won 2-0 in a chaotic game in which three players were sent off.

The curtain-raiser in front of more than 80,000 fans was the first of 104 matches at the biggest ever FIFA World Cup, where 48 countries will compete across 16 cities.

It began with costumes performing as a giant World Cup rose up in the centre of the pitch.

Mexican pop rock band Mana, were the first group to perform.

Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean also sang alongside performers dressed in traditional Mexican dress, as well as Colombian artist J Balvin.

Then Shakira and Burna Boy took to the stage in the finale.

Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony

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AFP via Getty Images

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Getty Images

Mexican actress and FIFA ambassador Salma Hayek was tasked with officially opening the tournament.

She delivered a short welcome speech before the ceremonial display of national flags and was later spotted in the stands alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup Trophy alongside Salma Hayek

It was a spectacular start to a tournament that for the first time in its nearly 100-year history, is being jointly hosted by three countries, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The US and Canada will host their own opening ceremonies ahead of their first games on Friday.

Ahead of the kick-off the tournament has courted huge controversy over ticket prices and visa issues in the US.

A Somali referee was denied a visa while Iran, amid its conflict with the US has been forced to move its training camp to Mexico.

While the price of tickets has forced many fans who would have liked to travel to the global tournament to stay at home.

Environmental groups have also criticised the environmental impact of a World Cup being held across such a large area.

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AFP via Getty Images

Sections of the Mexican public are also unhappy about the costs associated with co-hosting the tournament when deep-rooted societal and economic issues remain unresolved.

There were protest in the Mexican capital in the lead up to the opening match.

FIFA will be hoping attentions will now turn to the football after the rocky lead-up.

Argentina are aiming to become just the third defending champion in history to retain the trophy.

England, who are among the favourites, begin their quest to end 60 years of hurt on Wednesday when they face Croatia at 9pm BST.