World Cup 2026 opening ceremony LIVE: Shakira to kick off world’s biggest sporting event in Mexico City | OneFootball

After weeks of build-up, World Cup 2026 has finally arrived and will be kickstarted with a bang as a glitzy opening ceremony in Mexico City is followed by the first match of the tournament – Mexico v South Africa.

Music icons Shakira and Burna Boy will headline a star-studded opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca – the first of three at the tournament, with the US and Canada also hosting their own ceremonies tomorrow.

Once the stage has been removed and the confetti cleared, attention will turn to the on-pitch action with a Mexico side led by Javier Aguirre and harbouring hopes of a deep run on home soil taking on Group A underdogs South Africa, who are at the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010.

In that tournament, this exact fixture was also the opening contest and Siphiwe Tshabalala sent home fans wild with a 55th-minute goal before Rafael Marquez grabbed a 79th-minute equaliser to spare Mexican blushes. Will we be in for a repeat this evening?