World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, dancing, and protests
There was a star-studded opening ceremony, and some sporadic clashes between police and protesters around the Azteca stadium.
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Notable Quotes
"A good World Cup song... needs to definitely have rhythm."
— Shakira , Celebrity
"Let me just say that our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases."
— Gianni Infantino , Executive
"I spoke to Gianni this morning...he said there's never been anything close to the success of the coming tournament."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia."
— Gianni Infantino , Executive
""It's crazy, there could have been better organisation.""
— Javier Maciel , Other
Key People
Alejandro Fernández is a Mexican singer known for his romantic ballads.
President of Uefa who commented on Omar Artan's officiating skills.
Andrea Bocelli is an Italian opera singer known for his classical and pop music.
Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer and songwriter known for his Afro-fusion music.
Claudia Sheinbaum is the President of Mexico City.
Danny Ocean is a popular Venezuelan singer-songwriter.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Ejae is a popular K-Pop singer.
Fher Olvera is the lead singer of the pop punk band Maná.
President of FIFA.
Coach of the South Africa national football team.
A passionate Mexican fan attending the World Cup.
J Balvin is a Colombian reggaeton singer and songwriter.
Mexican pop rock band.
Somali referee Omar Artan was set to become the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals.
Salma Hayek is a Mexican-American actress and producer celebrated for her contributions to film.
Colombian singer known for her performances and music.
Tyla is a South African artist known for her music and anthems.
Tags
All Coverage
There was a star-studded opening ceremony, and some sporadic clashes between police and protesters around the Azteca stadium.
Shakira, Maná, Andrea Bocelli and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek lit up the World Cup opening ceremony ahead of Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa.
The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup got underway with the first of three opening ceremonies in Mexico, featuring a tribute to the co-host nation's Indigenous cultures and pop performances.
El 11 de junio de 2026, la capital de México vivió una jornada histórica con el inicio del Mundial de Fútbol, donde el país fungió como anfitrión por tercera vez.
The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup began with a tribute to Mexico's Indigenous cultures and pop performances, culminating in Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa.
Shakira and Burna Boy energized spectators at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
Shakira and Burna Boy's performance of the official World Cup song 'Dai Dai' was a standout moment in the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Shakira delivered a spectacular performance of FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem 'Dai Dai' at the opening ceremony in Mexico City, joined by Burna Boy.
Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, setting the stage for Mexico's match against South Africa.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup commenced in Mexico City with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring performances by global music icons and a celebration of cultural diversity.
Shakira and Burna Boy delivered an electrifying performance of 'Dai Dai' during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
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