The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is almost here. After four years of anticipation, football’s grandest spectacle returns in its biggest form.
Lionel Messi is back to attempt to retain the golden trophy he won in 2022, as is long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who will have his final opportunity to fulfil a goal he has chased all his career: a maiden world title.
While the two icons will reignite the debate over who truly is the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), teen prodigies like Lamine Yamal and superstar Kylian Mbappé are ready to add more glamour to one of sport’s biggest events.
A Grand Ceremony to Kick Off the Party
But before the audience is treated to top bins and bicycle kicks, cartwheels and knee slides, the football field will turn into a stage that will host a grand ceremony to kick off the party.
As co-hosts Mexico play South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 tournament opener, the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the first of three opening ceremonies on Thursday, 11 June. The stadium, the largest in Latin America, has a capacity of nearly 87,500.
Bringing together some of the biggest names in the music industry, the ceremony will celebrate football through catchy tunes, thumping beats and dazzling performances.
Shakira Leads Star-Studded Lineup
Four-time Grammy winner Shakira, also known as the “Queen of Latin Music,” will headline the show, performing “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament, alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The Colombian superstar is no stranger to a World Cup hit, having recorded “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for the 2010 World Cup.
South African singer-songwriter Tyla and Colombian singer J Balvin are two other popular names in the star cast of performers, which also includes Mexican singers Alejandro Fernández, Lila Downs and Belinda, as well as Venezuelan singer Danny Ocean.
Mexican pop band Maná and musical group Los Ángeles Azules complete the line-up for the pre-match ceremony, which will begin at 11:30 am local time (17:30 GMT), 90 minutes before kickoff.
“Produced in creative partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, each ceremony is connected by a shared creative thread that reimagines the FIFA World Cup Trophy through the lens of each host country’s culture,” FIFA stated.
“In Mexico, this concept is brought to life through the intricate and celebratory art of papel picado, a powerful symbol of tradition, craftsmanship, and joy.”
A Trilogy of Opening Ceremonies
With the World Cup set to be played for the first time across three countries—Mexico, Canada and the United States—the 11 June-19 July tournament will host three different opening ceremonies.
“As the first nation to open the tournament, Mexico will set the stage for a trilogy of opening ceremonies that will continue across Canada and the United States,” FIFA said.
After the first of three opening ceremonies in Mexico City on 11 June, the party will proceed to Toronto on 12 June at BMO Field, where Canada host Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The three-part celebration will end with its final ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the USA face Panama. A star-studded lineup, headlined by pop star Katy Perry, will perform at the event.
“The FIFA World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
“Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.
“It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration.”
A Historic Half-Time Show
On 19 July, a Super Bowl-style half-time show will be held during the World Cup final in New York City, with K-pop supergroup BTS, Madonna—nicknamed the “Queen of Pop”—and Colombian star Shakira set to co-headline the first-of-its-kind programme.
