Shakira kicks off the World Cup in star-studded opening ceremony as blockbuster tournament gets underway amid chaos in Mexico

Shakira officially opened the 2026 World Cup on Thursday; The football extravaganza began amid chaos that threatened to derail the tournament.

The biggest World Cup in history has officially arrived in North America, with thousands of fans flocking to the United States, Canada and Mexico to watch their favorite teams compete.

In a repeat of the opening game in 2010, Mexico will begin the blockbuster tournament against South Africa on Thursday at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Even before the first whistle blew, fans were treated to a dazzling display of action.

Shakira and Burna Boy performed Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, at the opening ceremony.

Hundreds of dancers accompanied the Colombian singer, who attracted attention with her neon yellow bodysuit and white mini skirts, on the stage in the middle of the field, accompanied by a feast of colors and sounds.

The Colombian player joins Burna Boy to perform Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 World Cup

Thousands of fans went wild at the Azteca as Shakira, who also recorded the official anthem of the 2010 World Cup, shook her hips amid a sea of ​​backup dancers.

Accompanied by a traditional Mexican mariachi band, he lit up the arena with his unique dance moves and unique high energy.

A massive golden replica of the World Cup trophy burst from the ground in the middle of the stage, as dancers dressed in brightly colored outfits streamed past the statue.

The jam-packed show also featured performances by Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana and Tyla; these were all featured on the first FIFA World Cup album.

Shakira’s Colombian friend, rapper J Balvin, was one of the most important names at the ceremony and appeared on stage before Shakira took the stage.

J Balvin, one of Latin America’s biggest artists, took the stage with singer Ryan Castro after Mexican pop-rock legends Mana warmed up the audience with their classic hits.

A flock of Mexican fans descended on the famous stadium hours before kick-off to celebrate their country hosting the World Cup for a record third time.

Dressed in red and green from head to toe, they turned Azteca into a colorful spectacle.

Shakira lights up the iconic Estadio Azteca with her signature moves amid a sea of ​​dancers

As the duo performs, a giant replica World Cup trophy pops out from the center of the stage

The singer fascinated with her neon yellow jumpsuit, white miniskirt and sunglasses

Many people were wearing eye-catching outfits, flashy headdresses, sequined sombreros and luchador masks.

Those who were unlucky got their hands on one of the eye-wateringly expensive tickets piled high in the fan zone at the Zócalo plaza in Mexico City’s historic district.

However, an hour before kick-off, chaotic scenes broke out in the free-entry fan park.

Access to the fan festival at the Zócalo plaza has been blocked by metal barriers erected in recent days to prevent protesting teachers from reaching the area. However, according to AFP, thousands of fans tried to enter the fan zone.

‘Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you’re like animals!’ a city official shouted through a megaphone as he tried to control access to the fans’ concourse.

Some fans threw water bottles at the police, shouted insults and chanted slogans in support of the Mexican team.

The local government announced on social media that the site was ‘full’ and advised fans to go to other plazas.

Meanwhile, while fans around the world were stunned by Shakira’s performance, viewers in the United States were outraged after Fox, the official American broadcaster of the World Cup, did not show the ceremony live.

Mexican fans flocked to the famous stadium hours before kick-off

Lots of eye-catching sportswear, headdresses, sombreros and luchador masks are worn

Instead, American fans tuning in to catch the high-octane performance were forced to listen to analysis from the network’s panel of Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexi Lalas.

It’s unclear why the network decided to reject Shakira’s performance, but Telemundo, the tournament’s Spanish-language carrier, aired the entire show.

Meanwhile, the United States and Canada will host their own opening ceremonies ahead of their first match on Friday.

Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening game at the newly converted BMO Field in Toronto.

The stadium was expanded from 28,000 seats to 45,000 in preparation for World Cup crowds.

And this country will be the scene of Canada’s celebration party as we serve some of the greatest talent the Great White North has to offer.

Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and Michael Buble will appear before the tournament starts north of the border.

The USA’s opening ceremony will take place on the same day, and the USMNT will also kick off its campaign on Friday.

The build-up to the opening clash was overshadowed by numerous protests in Mexico City

The World Cup started with the Mexico-South Africa match at Estadio Azteca Stadium.

The Stars and Stripes face Paraguay in Los Angeles as they begin their home World Cup for the first time since 1994.

Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla headline the pre-game festivities in the City of Angels.

But off-field debates such as politics, cost, security and logistics dominated the build-up to kick-off ahead of the biggest World Cup in history.

Mexico City itself epitomizes this contrast. The country is proud to have become the first country to host World Cup matches in three separate tournaments, following the tournaments in 1970 and 1986.

But behind this football excitement there is also a real mix of tensions, with large-scale protests taking place across the capital.

The most visible demonstrations came from members of the teachers’ union Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion, who protested wage, pension and labor reforms.

Elsewhere, environmental and human rights groups including Greenpeace have staged protests over the environmental impacts of the World Cup, involving 16 host cities and three countries.

Some segments of the Mexican public are also unhappy with the costs involved in co-hosting the tournament while deep-seated social and economic problems remain unresolved. Some have argued that the event benefits wealthier segments of society rather than the general population.

Teachers union protests wage, pension and labor reforms in Mexico City

Security measures increased around Estadio Azteca amid chaos

Meanwhile, the United States has also been rocked by controversy over preparations for the tournament, amid anger over the Trump administration’s visa policies.

Visa and entry issues created another source of controversy; Many fans, journalists, and even officials reportedly encountered problems obtaining visas or entering the United States.

The most prominent person affected was Somali referee Omar Artan, who is considered one of Africa’s leading officials.

Despite being selected for the tournament, Artan was removed from FIFA’s referee list after American officials denied entry to the tournament upon his arrival at Miami International Airport.

An official from the Donald Trump administration claimed that this was due to Artan’s alleged ‘relationship with suspected members of a terrorist organization’.

Speaking to the New York Times, Artan said: ‘I am very, very disappointed. ‘I’m just a referee trying to realize the biggest dream of my life, which is to get to the World Cup.’

Somalia is among the countries on Trump’s travel ban list. Last month, he described Somali immigrants in the US as ‘all crooks,’ having previously labeled the African nation as ‘the worst country in the world’ in January.

Travel restrictions attracted particular attention because they also affected qualified countries. Haiti and Iran are subject to full restrictions, while Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions.

Tournament rocked by controversy over Donald Trump’s visa policies

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended FIFA’s handling of various issues on Wednesday

The issue has led to geopolitical tensions at the World Cup. While Iraq national team photographer Talal Salah was denied entry to the USA, the Iranian Football Federation claimed that the tickets allocated to the fans were cancelled.

They added that some officials had their visas denied and that the Iranian team now must enter and leave the United States on match days.

As a result, Iran shifted its base from Arizona to Mexico shortly before the tournament, disrupting preparations.

This accumulation of problems has led some observers to describe this World Cup as the most politically charged event in history, despite FIFA’s efforts to position it as a unifying global event.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed last year that ‘fans from all over the world are welcome’ and attracted further attention on Wednesday when pressed about visa issues, travel restrictions and ticket prices.

While defending how FIFA handled the situation, he argued that immigration decisions rest with governments rather than the governing body.

He similarly supported ticket prices and claimed that no one else could secure Iran’s participation in the tournament, given their dispute with the United States.

He also urged his critics to ‘calm down’ and ‘relax’.

“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino said. ‘We must respect that we are not kings of the world who can run governments and police forces.

‘We are a sports institution that does our best. Sometimes it is important to relax, relax. We are working on everything. ‘Sometimes screaming and shouting are not the solution.’