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FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener Recap: Shakira, Tyla and Alejandro ...
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener Recap: Shakira, Tyla and Alejandro ...
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Last updated 50 minutes ago
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener Recap: Shakira, Tyla and Alejandro Fernández Perform, Mexico Wins Against South Africa
The global soccer tournament officially kicked off on June 11 in Mexico City.
Three major stars taking part in the June 11 World Cup opener.
Getty Images
Updated
June 11, 2026, 5:54 PM EDT
/ Source:
TODAY
By Liz Calvario, Gina Vivinetto, Scott Stump, and Ariana Brockington
What to Know About the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony
WORLD CUP KICK OFF:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on June 11.
THE LOCATION:
The first match took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
THE TEAMS
: Mexico, who is one of three host countries, played against South Africa.
THE PERFORMERS
: Before the game started, Shakira, J Balvin, Alejandro Fernández and more artists performed during the opening ceremony.
HOW TO WATCH
: The opening ceremony began at 11:30 local time, 90-minutes before the match. People can rewatch the celebration on Peacock, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and other streaming services.
NEW UPDATES
50m ago / 5:54 PM EDT
Canada Will Face Bosnia and Herzegovina on …
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony, Watch Parties & Events
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony, Watch Parties & Events
Shakira, Andrea Bocelli and EJAE perform during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico; Ludacris performing at the Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club Santa Monica VIP event, and Peso performing at the adidas FIFA World Cup Soccer Hub on Thursday, June 11 in Los Angeles
Getty/Courtesy
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with a performance of the official anthem, ‘DNA,’ by Andrea Bocelli and Ejae, ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. David Guetta and Megan Thee Stallion feature on the song but were not in attendance.
Shakira and Burna Boy performed ‘Dai Dai, ’ and
South African singer Tyler sang the South African anthem.
As anticipation reaches a fever pitch for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Los Angeles is positioning itself as the premier North American epicenter of soccer culture this week.
Events include the adidas ‘Home of Soccer’ at BMO Stadium and the Michelob ULTRA ‘Pitchside Club’ in Santa Monica, which offers fans an array of international match watch parties.
Adidas kicked off its brand activat…
World Cup 2026 opening ceremony ahead of Mexico vs South Africa live: Shakira, Burna Boy | artists, music, fans, soccer - AS USA
World Cup 2026 opening ceremony ahead of Mexico vs South Africa live: Shakira, Burna Boy | artists, music, fans, soccer - AS USA
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Jun 11th, 2026 15:31
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2026 World Cup opening ceremony countdown
Time for us to put the opening ceremony to one side and now focus on the football.
It was fast, dynamic and full of colour and sets the scene up nicely ahead of 39 days of top quality football.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the
2026 World Cup!
Posted at: 15:31 EDT 11/06/2026
Shakira and Burna Boy steal opening ceremony
Posted at: 15:28 EDT 11/06/2026
It's on !!!!!
Posted at: 15:20 EDT 11/06/2026
World Cup 2026
The Rolling Stones and FIFA join forces ahead of the World Cup
More music and FIFA collabs as
The Rolling Stones
have joined forces with the global governing body and we'll have some limited editions of the iconic band's new album
‘Foreign Tongues’
which gets a release date in early
July.
Posted at: 15:18 EDT 11/06/2026
Mexico score !
Quiñones puts El Tri ahead !
Mexico 1-0 South Africa
Posted at: 15:15 EDT 11/06/2026
World Cup 2…
Everything to know about 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies
Everything to know about 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies
Let the games begin.
The2026 FIFA World Cupis here and it's kicking off in an epic way with not one but three opening ceremonies.
Before the first match on Thursday, June 11, between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Shakira and Burna Boy took the global stage for the first opening ceremony, where they sang the FIFA World Cup official song, "Dai Dai."
Read on to see how to watch the FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies and more.
Thursday's opening ceremony in Mexico City began 90 minutes before kick-off between Mexico and South Africa.
Two more opening ceremony performances will take place on Friday, June 12, in Toronto and Los Angeles.
The opening ceremonies in Toronto and Los Angeles will also take place 90 minutes before kick-off.
Kick-off for the match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto will begin at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, while kick-off for the match between the U.S. and Paraguay in Los Angeles will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Along with Shakira and Burna Boy, stars who took the stage in Mexico City included Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azu…
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening: Start Times & Live Streams
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening: Start Times & Live Streams
The
biggest football
party on the planet is finally here!
Today,
June 11, 2026
, the
FIFA World Cup 2026 opening
explodes into life with a spectacular ceremony at the legendary Mexico City Stadium (
Estadio Azteca
).
If you are a soccer fan eager to catch the historic
FIFA World Cup 2026
opening match between
Mexico vs South Africa
, this guide has you covered. Get exact kickoff times for the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Australia, find out who is performing, and learn exactly how to watch it live right now—including free streaming options.
This minor tweak makes the content feel like breaking, real-time news. It perfectly captures that immediate search intent for people frantically googling how to watch the ceremony today!
When Does the Opening Ceremony Start in Your Timezone?
The ceremony starts
90 minutes before the kickoff
of Mexico vs South Africa.
Your Location
Ceremony Starts
Match Kickoff
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Eastern Time (US/Canada)
1:30 PM
3:00 PM
Afternoon watch parties
Pacific Time (US/Canada)
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
Morning + brunch vibes
UK (BST)
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
Prime time evening
Europe (CET)
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
Cla…
Full list of World Cup performers, from opening ceremonies to final
Full list of World Cup performers, from opening ceremonies to final
MUSIC
Men's World Cup
Add Topic
All of the World Cup performers, from opening ceremonies to halftime show
Melina Khan
USA TODAY
Updated May 14, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ET
Hear this story
The stars will be showing out at the
FIFA World Cup
this summer with several planned performances at the high-profile soccer tournament.
Several big-name artists are slated to hit the World Cup stage to perform for audiences at multiple opening ceremonies, as well as a first-of-its-kind
halftime show
during the final game.
The final halftime show, which will take place July 19 at
MetLife Stadium
in New Jersey, will be the tournament's first in its nearly 100-year history.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who is helping produce the halftime show along with nonprofit Global Citizen, announced the lineup in an
Instagram video
on May 14.
Separately, earlier in May, FIFA announced performers for three different opening ceremonies that will be held in each of the host countries – the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The 2026 World Cup will be played from June 11 to July 19.
See who is performing at the World Cup opening ceremonies
Each opening …
Quick hits: Opening ceremony delights, drinks break drama and Haiti's jersey ban
Quick hits: Opening ceremony delights, drinks break drama and Haiti's jersey ban
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is up and running, launched by a colourful opening ceremony and comprehensive win for Mexico. Here are the quick hits from the opening day of the tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony: Performers & Triple Show Guide
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony: Performers & Triple Show Guide
The
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
is officially set to be a global revolution, breaking tradition with a triple-host celebration across North America. The countdown to the largest sporting spectacle in human history has officially entered its final stretch.
The footballing world is no longer just discussing tactics and squad lists; the conversation has shifted to the grand stage.
Global superstars Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla will headline an incredible all-star lineup.
For the first time,
FIFA
is departing from tradition to deliver a
“Triple Opening Ceremony”
across three nations, promising a cultural tapestry that matches the scale of the first-ever
48-team tournament
. In the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony match, the United States will face Paraguay in the
opening match of the World Cup
.
From the K-pop frenzy of
BLACKPINK’s Lisa
to the rhythmic power of
Shakira
, here is your definitive, 360-degree guide to everything happening at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony.
Everything About the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
Historically, the World Cup opening ceremony was…
What happened, and who performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?
What happened, and who performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?
Musical performances, colour, and fan excitement precede the World Cup's opening game in Mexico City.
World Cup opening ceremony: Who’s performing, when it starts, how to watch
World Cup opening ceremony: Who’s performing, when it starts, how to watch
The 2026 World Cup begins with historic ceremonies across the US, Canada and Mexico, launching a record tournament.
Nora Fatehi to headline FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Canada
Nora Fatehi to headline FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Canada
Canada will host the second FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Toronto. Nora Fatehi will headline the event. Other artists like Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble will also perform. The ceremony precedes Canada's first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fans can watch the event live on UNITE8 Sports and DD Sports. Live streaming is available on Zee5.
How to Watch Mexico's World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony: Times, TV ...
How to Watch Mexico's World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony: Times, TV ...
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Stream live on Fubo
Stream live on Peacock
Rob Norcup
Jun 11, 2026 03:00-04:00
TV Guide & Streaming
World Cup
Mexico
Don't miss a single moment of Mexico's World Cup opening party
The wait is finally over, World Cup 2026 is here ! As well as 104 thrilling encounters we've got three dazzling opening ceremonies to savour, one staged by each of the tournament co-hosts, Mexico, Canada and United States.
First up, the spotlight falls on Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, on Thursday June 11. The iconic stadium will be hosting a massive celebration, that includes huge music artists such as Shakira, before the home nation faces South Africa in the opening World Cup clash.
So how can you catch the Azteca extravaganza? Whether you are watching from home or streaming on your phone, let
GOAL
give you the lowdown on how to watch the opening ceremony in Mexico.
Watch the opening ceremony on FOX or Telemundo
Sign up now
READ MORE
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Where to watch and live stream FIFA World Cup 2026
When is Mexico’s World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony?
The Mexico FIFA World Cup 2026 takes place before the opening game between Mexico and…
Who's Performing At The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies ... - Forbes
Who's Performing At The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies ... - Forbes
Business
Hollywood & Entertainment
Shakira, Katy Perry, Lisa And More To Perform For 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies
By
Monica Mercuri
,
Contributor.
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
Monica is an entertainment reporter covering TV, film, and music.
Follow Author
Jun 11, 2026, 01:00pm EDT
Jun 11, 2026, 01:25pm EDT
Shakira at Global Citizen x FIFA World Cup Final Panel at Global Citizen NOW held at Spring Studios on May 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Images)
Variety via Getty Images
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting a star-studded kickoff. The tournament is hosting
three opening ceremonies
across Mexico, Canada and the United States, and each celebration will include performances from global artists, including Shakira, Burna Boy, Katy Perry, Future, Lisa, Alanis Morissette and more.
The celebrations begin in Mexico City on June 11 before moving to Toronto and Los Angeles the following day. In addition to airing live performances, each ceremony will showcase the culture, music and spirit of its host nation.
Forbes
2026 World Cup…
Here's how to watch 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies, start times
Here's how to watch 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies, start times
WORLD CUP
Men's World Cup
Add Topic
How to watch every 2026 World Cup opening ceremony from the US, Mexico and Canada
Elizabeth Flores
USA TODAY
June 10, 2026
Updated June 11, 2026, 3:53 p.m. ET
Hear this story
The countdown to the
2026 FIFA World Cup
is almost over, and it will be the most ambitious tournament yet. For the first time in history, this edition will open with three spectacular ceremonies, one in each host nation, reflecting and celebrating North American culture.
Festivities kick off on Thursday, June 11, as the
group stage
officially begins. The first opening ceremony will unfold at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The celebration,
set for 90 minutes before kickoff
, will showcase Mexican culture, music and tradition before the host nation, Mexico, takes on South Africa in the first Group A matchup.
The
second opening ceremony
follows on Friday, June 12, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The event boasts a star-studded lineup, with global superstars Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla slated to perform. Their performances will set the stage for the United States’ open…
World Cup opening ceremony best moments: Shakira, Belinda, J Balvin ...
World Cup opening ceremony best moments: Shakira, Belinda, J Balvin ...
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David Suggs
Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images
JUMP TO:
The2026 World Cupis, quite literally, the biggest in the competition's history. FIFA enlisted a handful of stars to bring that designation to life.
The opening ceremony was brief, wrapping up inside 30 minutes. For those who watched — particularly those from the Spanish-speaking world — it proved memorable, with Shakira, J Balvin, Belinda and more unleashing fireworks atop the Estadio Azteca pitch.
Mana kicked things off, delivering a memorable vocal performance likely to ring on in the famed colosseum's memory. She wasn't the only one to accomplish such a feat. Accompanied by Los Angeles Azules — a Mexican musical group specialising in Mexican cumbia — Belinda pranced and crooned under the burning Mexico City sun. She and J Balvin offered impressive showcases during the spectacle, with their countenances and voices dancing across social media after they left the stage.
Then came the main event: Shakira and Burna…
World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonies: Start Times And How To ... - Forbes
World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonies: Start Times And How To ... - Forbes
Business
Hollywood & Entertainment
The 2026 World Cup Ceremony Opens In Mexico With Shakira, Burna Boy And More
By
Monica Mercuri
,
Contributor.
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
Monica is an entertainment reporter covering TV, film, and music.
Follow Author
Jun 11, 2026, 10:20am EDT
Jun 11, 2026, 12:39pm EDT
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 03: Aerial view of Science World after the completion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match ball installation on June 03, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Built as the signature Expo Centre for Expo 86, the landmark's geodesic dome has been transformed with 131 custom-shaped panels into a giant recreation of the Adidas Trionda, the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup 2026, ahead of the tournament's arrival in Vancouver. (Photo by Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The
2026 World Cup
gets underway today with planned celebrations across North America. Three opening ceremonies will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States ahead of the first three Group A matches of the tournament.
The opening ceremonies kick off …
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in pictures: Shakira, Burna ... - WION
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in pictures: Shakira, Burna ... - WION
Shakira headlined the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony, delivering one of the event’s most memorable performances. However, the spectacular curtain-raiser featured plenty of other standout moments as well. Here’s a look at the highlights from the opening ceremony
Shakira took center stage at the official opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The Colombian superstar performed the tournament's official anthem, ‘Dai Dai’, alongside Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy.
South Korean–American singer, songwriter, and record producer Ejae performs during the opening ceremony ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday
An artist performs during the opening ceremony ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City
Supporters turned the stadium into a vibrant mosaic of colours. National flags, painted faces and team jerseys filled the stands as fans celebrated the arrival of the biggest Wor…
FIFA World Cup: How to watch opening ceremony, all performers, start timings & more
FIFA World Cup: How to watch opening ceremony, all performers, start timings & more
The FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony will feature three major celebrations across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, making it one of the biggest tournament launches in history. Artists including Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Tyla, Michael Bublé, and Nora Fatehi are set to perform. Fans in India can watch the ceremonies live on Unite8 Sports channels and Zee5. FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the event “a truly global celebration” uniting music, culture, and football.
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact. 3 fabricated/unverifiable quotes were rejected by the cite-or-die gate.
The spine · 3 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
2×cross-perspective · 2The opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
indiaqatar
aljazeera“The 2026 World Cup begins with historic ceremonies across the US, Canada and Mexico, launching a record tournament.”
timesofindia“The FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony will feature three major celebrations across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, making it one of the biggest tournament launches in history.”
2×cross-perspective · 2Mexico won the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
otherwestern
abc_au“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is up and running, launched by a colourful opening ceremony and comprehensive win for Mexico.”
today.com“FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener Recap: Shakira, Tyla and Alejandro Fernández Perform, Mexico Wins Against South Africa”
2×broadly confirmedPerformers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony included Shakira, J Balvin, Alejandro Fernández, Burna Boy, Tyla, Michael Bublé, and Nora Fatehi.
indiaother
timesofindia“Artists including Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Tyla, Michael Bublé, and Nora Fatehi are set to perform.”
today.com“Before the game started, Shakira, J Balvin, Alejandro Fernández and more artists performed during the opening ceremony.”
Single-source · 6 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on June 11, 2026.
today.com
The first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
today.com
Mexico played against South Africa in the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
today.com
The opening ceremony began 90 minutes before the first match.
today.com
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony as 'a truly global celebration' uniting music, culture, and football.
timesofindia
Fans in India can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony live on Unite8 Sports channels and Zee5.
timesofindia
Framing · 4 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
abc_au
“Opening ceremony delights, drinks break drama and Haiti's jersey ban”
→ The opening ceremony was described as delightful and included other events such as drinks break drama and a jersey ban related to Haiti.
aljazeera
“launching a record tournament”
→ The tournament is described as a record-breaking event.
timesofindia
“making it one of the biggest tournament launches in history”
→ The opening ceremony is described as one of the biggest in history.
today.com
“Mexico Wins Against South Africa”
→ Mexico's victory is framed as a win against South Africa.
Entities
FIFAorg
south of Africaplace
MEXICOplace
Forbesorg
Haitiplace
Shakiraperson
Burna Boyperson
J Balvinperson
AS USAorg
Tylaperson
Belindaperson
Alejandroperson