Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats artist Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, delivered a captivating joint performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The high-energy event marked the official kickoff of the expanded 48-team tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The opening match featured hosts Mexico against South Africa, drawing global attention to the iconic 80,000-capacity stadium.
The ceremony featured vibrant fireworks, elaborate choreography, and a giant display of the World Cup trophy, setting the tone for a month-long football festival running until July 19, 2026, with 104 matches scheduled across the three host nations.
The highlight of the night was the live performance of the official tournament anthem, “Dai Dai,” where Shakira led a troupe of dancers in a visually striking stage performance while Burna Boy joined for his featured segments. Their collaboration drew loud cheers from spectators and quickly gained traction across social media platforms.
Dressed in a bright yellow outfit, Shakira energized the crowd with her signature stage presence, while Burna Boy’s appearance reinforced Afrobeats’ growing global influence on major international stages.
Early industry reactions, including reports from Billboard, described “Dai Dai” as recording strong global engagement since its release in May, with increasing streaming numbers ahead of the tournament kickoff.
The performance has since been widely shared online, further cementing both artists’ status as global music icons.
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