Shakira to light up FIFA World Cup 2026 opener as Mexico face South Africa in blockbuster kickoff
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off spectacularly on Thursday, with global superstar Shakira set to headline the opening ceremony in Mexico City before the tournament’s first match.
Shakira will perform “Dai Dai”, the official anthem of the tournament, as the stadium lights up to launch what is expected to be the biggest edition of the World Cup yet.
Mexico vs South Africa kick-off tournament action
Following the ceremony, host Mexico will take on South Africa in the opening match, a fixture loaded with symbolism and history.
The encounter is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener, when South Africa hosted the tournament.
Mexico enter as a potential dark horse, boosted by home advantage and strong expectations, while South Africa are targeting a historic breakthrough as they aim for their first-ever qualification into the knockout stage.
Tough group A battle ahead
Both teams share Group A with South Korea national football team and Czech Republic national football team, making the opening clash crucial in shaping the early standings.
With momentum at stake from day one, both sides will be looking to make a strong statement as football’s grandest tournament begins.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
