The FIFA World Cup 2026 will officially get underway on Thursday with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Mexico City Stadium, setting the stage for the biggest tournament in football history.
The ceremony will take place 90 minutes before hosts Mexico face South Africa in the opening match, marking the beginning of a month-long football festival spread across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Historic World Cup Begins With Expanded 48-Team Format
The 2026 edition represents a landmark moment for the tournament, as FIFA expands the competition from 32 to 48 teams for the first time.
Hosted jointly by Mexico, United States and Canada, the event will feature more matches, more nations and a broader global audience than any previous World Cup.
The opening ceremony will also celebrate Mexico’s unique place in football history. The country becomes the first nation ever to host World Cup matches across three separate editions, having previously staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986.
Shakira And Burna Boy To Perform Official World Cup Song
Music will be one of the major highlights of the opening ceremony, with global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy set to perform Dai Dai, the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2026, live for the first time.
The performance is expected to be one of the standout moments of the ceremony, blending Latin and African musical influences in front of a global audience of millions.
Star-Studded Entertainment Lineup Announced
FIFA has assembled an impressive roster of international artists for the opening celebrations.
The lineup includes:
- Tyla
- J Balvin
- Maná
- Los Ángeles Azules
- Belinda
- Lila Downs
- Danny Ocean
- Ryan Castro
The diverse lineup reflects the multicultural nature of the tournament and the host nations, showcasing musical talent from across Latin America, Africa and beyond.
Football And Culture Take Centre Stage
Organisers say the opening ceremony will combine music, culture and football heritage, highlighting the global appeal of the World Cup while celebrating Mexico’s deep-rooted football traditions.
With fans arriving from around the world and billions expected to tune in, the event is designed to set the tone for what promises to be the most expansive World Cup ever staged.
The tournament will feature matches across multiple cities in North America before culminating in the final next month, where one nation will lift football’s most prestigious trophy.