She skipped the 2022 World Cup. She stayed quiet when Qatar called. But when the 2026 FIFA World Cup came knocking, Shakira didn’t just say yes. She showed up, stepped onto the pitch of one of football’s most historic venues, and reminded the entire world exactly why her name and the World Cup have become inseparable.
On Thursday, June 11, in front of over 80,000 roaring fans at the Estadio Ciudad de México, the Colombian superstar delivered a performance that stopped the world for a few breathtaking minutes before the tournament even kicked off. And if you thought Waka Waka was her peak World Cup moment, think again.
The Stage Was Set Before She Even Walked Out
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature a newly expanded 48-team format, and for the first time in history, three nations are co-hosting the tournament. With matches spread across 11 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, FIFA pulled off something just as ambitious off the pitch by organising not one but three separate opening ceremonies.
The first ceremony took place Thursday at the Estadio Ciudad de México, 90 minutes before the opening Group A match between hosts Mexico and South Africa.
The show opened with Lila Downs appearing at the centre of the venue, which was decorated with a giant World Cup trophy. Surrounded by Aztec dancers, she honoured Mexico’s pre-Hispanic roots and delivered a message of unity. It was a powerful, culturally rooted beginning that reminded viewers this wasn’t just a football tournament. It was a statement.
According to Billboard, Maná then rocked out to their 1992 hit “Oye Mi Amor,” setting off the crowd before Danny Ocean performed his World Cup song “Partidazo.” Cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda followed with their soundtrack cut “Por Ella,” before J Balvin hit the field for a high-energy medley of his biggest hits, bringing out Ryan Castro to perform their new track “Una a la Vez” before closing with his 2018 smash “I Like It.”
The crowd was already on their feet. But the biggest moment was still coming.
Shakira Takes the Field and the World Stops
Shakira came out first, wearing a bright yellow mesh bodysuit and matching gloves, and delivered sharp dance moves as she sang the official 2026 World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” for the very first time on a live stage.
The crowd roared as she appeared on the pitch and took the mic, immaculately executing the choreography of “Dai Dai” with her dancers before being joined by Burna Boy. The duo ended the song with a powerful “Dale, allez, let’s go!”
Alongside her group of dancers, she swayed her powerful hips to the sound of African rhythms, making over 80,000 attendees dance as they celebrated the performance from one of their most beloved artists.
The star-studded performance wrapped with green, white, and red fireworks matching the colors of the Mexican flag, closing the ceremony spectacularly.
What Is “Dai Dai” and Why Does It Matter?
The emotional peak of the ceremony arrived when Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai” live for the first time. FIFA had heavily promoted the collaboration in the days leading up to the tournament. The song blends Afrobeats, Latin rhythms, and pop influences, aiming to represent the multicultural spirit of the first 48-team World Cup.
The title literally translates to “Come on, come on,” and the song was written by Shakira, Burna Boy, Benny Adam, Jon Bellion, Ed Sheeran, and Alexander Castillo, and was released on May 15, 2026. The Ed Sheeran writing credit alone is enough to tell you FIFA went all in on making this a global anthem.
This marks the fourth time the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer has contributed a song to the World Cup. In Germany 2006, she performed “Hips Don’t Lie – Bamboo.” In South Africa 2010, she delivered the iconic “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of that tournament. And for Brazil 2014, she performed “La La La” during the closing ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium.
She skipped Qatar 2022, but she never really left the conversation.
A Night Full of Culture, Emotion, and Global Unity
After Shakira and Burna Boy closed out the musical portion of the ceremony, World Cup Ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault took to the pitch to welcome fans from around the world, saying in Spanish, “In this stadium, along with Canada and the United States, we welcome the 48 flags. Us Mexicans are very honoured to be here, where the World Cup begins.”
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and singer EJAE then performed “DNA,” the official FIFA World Cup anthem for 2026, followed by South African artist Tyla singing her country’s national anthem as her nation’s players and fans in the crowd sang along, placing their hands over their hearts. Grammy winner Alejandro Fernández then performed Mexico’s national anthem, and clouds of red and green smoke burst into the air to signal the start of the tournament.
The moment carried an added layer of nostalgia. It was a throwback to the 2010 World Cup, when Shakira performed “Waka Waka” ahead of the match between then-hosts South Africa and Mexico. Only this time, with the roles reversed and Mexico as the host, Shakira closed it out with “Dai Dai” alongside Burna Boy.
And this isn’t the last we’ll see of her at this tournament. Shakira is also set to co-headline the halftime show of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, alongside Madonna and BTS.
The World Cup is back. And so is Shakira.
