World Cup opens in Mexico City with Shakira, local acts and festival atmosphere

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico City on Thursday with a pre-match ceremony at Estadio Azteca that mixed global pop names with local performers and a loud fan atmosphere.

The ceremony came before Mexico’s opening match against South Africa, turning the tournament launch into a spectacle focused as much on entertainment and crowd energy as on football.

Shakira was among the headline performers reported by multiple outlets, alongside Burna Boy and J Balvin. Coverage also said the lineup included local and regional acts such as Maná, Belinda, Alejandro Fernández, Lila Downs and Los Ángeles Azules.

A staged opening

The match was the first official game of the expanded 48-team tournament, and Mexico was given the honor of hosting the opener. BBC and AP both described a celebratory scene around the stadium and in fan areas across the city.

The event was framed as a major television moment for FIFA and the host nation, with attention also on how the opening would land with supporters in the stadium and beyond.

What is known

AP photo coverage described the ceremony as spectacular, while The Guardian’s live coverage said the opening day also drew criticism over ticket prices and access. People reported that the Mexico City ceremony was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on June 11.

BBC published its first report at 19:13 UTC on June 11, keeping the story within the opening-day freshness window.

What comes next

The immediate focus now shifts to the Mexico-South Africa result and any official FIFA or host-city figures on attendance, security and fan operations.

Further confirmation is still needed on the full set list and whether organizers will release an official attendance count for the ceremony.