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A spectacular opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca set the stage for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, with Shakira and Burna Boy bringing the crowd to its feet moments before co-hosts Mexico kicked off their campaign against South Africa.
The 48-team tournament, jointly staged by the United States and Canada, will see 104 matches played across North America before the July 19 final in New Jersey.
Inside the historic 80,000-seat venue – renovated for this year’s competition and previously home to the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals – dancers spun around a towering replica of the trophy as fireworks lit up the sky.
Global stars take the stage
The ceremony’s standout moment came when Colombian superstar Shakira joined Nigerian afrobeat sensation Burna Boy to perform “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official anthem, triggering thunderous applause.
J Balvin and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also appeared on stage, building the pre-match excitement.
“It’s already a party in Mexico,” said Ingrid Orozco, 40, a Mexican supporter.
Gustavo Ramírez, 19, described the atmosphere as “amazing.”
Chaos outside fan zone
Outside the stadium, however, tensions ran high at the official fan zone in the Zocala plaza, where thousands of supporters struggled to gain entry ahead of the 1800 GMT kickoff.
Metal barriers, installed days earlier to keep away striking teachers demanding higher pay, blocked access to the area. A city official shouted through a megaphone: “Stop pushing and shoving, there are children here, you’re like animals!”
Some fans hurled water bottles and insults at police, while others chanted in support of the national team.
Javier Maciel, 25, told AFP: “It’s crazy. There could have been better organisation.”
Local authorities later announced on social media that the site had reached capacity and directed fans to alternative plazas.
President Claudia Sheinbaum had planned to attend the fan zone but cast doubt on her appearance following days of teacher protests in the area.
