2026 FIFA World Cup Opens in Mexico City with Shakira Performance and 48-Team Tournament

Jun 11, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun in Mexico City, kicking off the first-ever 48-team tournament co-hosted by three nations. The opening ceremony featured a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy before co-host Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. The event was met with protests outside the stadium over government corruption, while FIFA faced criticism for high ticket prices.

2026 World Cup opening ceremony

▪The ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca, which has now hosted the World Cup opening match three times.
▪The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11, 2026, with an opening ceremony in Mexico City.
▪FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the prices, stating that a small number of $60 tickets were made available.
▪FIFA has faced criticism over high ticket prices for the tournament, with some costing over $30,000.

Shakira Burna Boy performance

▪Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy headlined the opening ceremony.
▪Shakira and Burna Boy performed "Dai Dai," the official song of the 2026 World Cup.

Mexico versus South Africa match

▪Mexico won the opening match against South Africa with a score of 2-0.
▪The opening match featured co-hosts Mexico playing against South Africa.
▪Julián Quiñones scored the first goal for Mexico in the ninth minute, followed by a second-half goal from Raúl Jiménez.

Mexico City government protests

▪Protesters included families of "disappeared people" and teachers, highlighting government corruption and the cost of the event.
▪Mexican officials reported that nearly 200 hooded individuals broke away from larger groups and clashed with law enforcement.
▪Protests occurred outside the Estadio Azteca before the opening ceremony.

Tournament host cities

▪Matches will be played in 16 cities across the three host countries, with separate opening ceremonies in Toronto and Los Angeles.
▪The 2026 World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three nations: the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

48-team tournament format

▪The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature an expanded format of 48 national teams.
▪The expanded tournament is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue.
▪The previous 32-team tournament format had been in place since 1998.