WATCH: Burna Boy and Shakira electrify 80,000 fans at FIFA World Cup opening ceremony

The biggest sporting event on earth officially got underway on Thursday evening, June 11, as Colombian pop royalty Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats titan Burna Boy delivered an electric headline performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

Taking the pitch inside a completely sold-out Estadio Azteca, the duo debuted 'Dai Dai,' the tournament's official anthem.

The performance carried unmatched prestige, arriving just hours after fans officially voted the track as the greatest FIFA World Cup song of all time in a massive global Billboard poll.

The infectious track narrowly edged out Shakira’s own 2010 legendary anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” and Ricky Martin's “The Cup of Life” to claim the historic crown before a single match had even kicked off.

You can watch their performance below:

The explosive multi-cultural track, whose name is an Italian phrase translating to "let's go" or "come on", blended Shakira's distinct Latin pop rhythm with Burna Boy's signature heavy Afrobeats groove.

Backed by hundreds of synchronized dancers and a massive, spinning replica of the World Cup trophy, the performers sent a literal shockwave through the historic Mexican stadium as green, white, and red fireworks illuminated the capital sky.

While older chapters of soccer history remember the Estadio Azteca hosting crowds north of 100,000, modern security measures and premium seating overhauls locked the live audience directly at full capacity.

The official FIFA tournament configuration maxed out at 80,824 strictly ticketed fans, packing the historic arena to its absolute limits. Including the massive production crews, security personnel, global media booths, and VIP hospitality suites, the total physical building count was estimated at just over 83,000 individuals, creating a literal wall of green jerseys packed tightly from the pitch side to the very upper rafter sections.

The high-octane showing from Shakira and Burna Boy served as the grand finale of a fast-paced opening production curated by FIFA.

A massive celebration of Mexican heritage preceded the anthem, featuring local icons Maná performing their classic hit “Oye Mi Amor,” followed by individual sets from Belinda, Danny Ocean, and a high-energy medley from Colombian superstar J Balvin.

The performance marks a historic milestone for Burna Boy, continuing the global expansion of Nigerian music onto the planet's single most watched broadcast window.

Meanwhile, for World Cup veteran Shakira, the show is only a warm-up, as she has already been confirmed by FIFA to co-headline the tournament's final halftime show on July 19.

The roaring crowd inside the Azteca immediately transitioned from musical festival to absolute sporting frenzy as the ceremony concluded, clearing the pitch for the opening Group A match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.