Global music superstar Shakira will headline the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico City, FIFA announced on Friday, with the Colombian singer set to perform the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai.”

The opening ceremony will take place at Estadio Azteca on Thursday, 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

Shakira will be joined on stage by Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, one of the featured artists on “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the tournament. The title is derived from an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” capturing the spirit and excitement of football’s biggest event.

The star-studded show will also feature performances from fellow Colombian artist J Balvin and South African sensation Tyla, underscoring FIFA’s effort to showcase musical talent from across the globe.

The announcement adds another milestone to Shakira’s long association with the FIFA World Cup. The singer famously performed the 2010 World Cup anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which became one of the most successful football songs of all time.

FIFA also confirmed that Shakira will feature prominently later in the tournament, having been selected to perform at the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show. The historic event is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium, marking a new entertainme26,nt dimension for the world’s biggest sporting event.

The FIFA World Cup 20 jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the largest edition of the tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. Organisers expect the opening ceremony to set the tone for a month-long celebration of football, music and culture across North America.

 Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

France brushed aside concerns after suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in a World Cup warm-up match on Thursday, insisting the setback would serve ​as a useful reminder rather than a cause for alarm ahead of ‌the tournament.

Didier Deschamps’ side led through a superb first-half goal from Rayan Cherki but were overrun after the break as Guela Doue and Amad Diallo turned the game around for the Elephants in ​Nantes.

With France opening their World Cup campaign against Senegal in New York on ​June 16, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said the result should be viewed in ⁠the context of preparations rather than as a warning sign.

“It’s a pity to lose ​but we’re in a preparation phase; we stay confident,” Tchouameni said.

“There is no conclusion to ​draw from this game, even if we had won it. We will be ready.”

France fielded an experimental side, with several Paris Saint-Germain players rested after last weekend’s Champions League final triumph, and ​made numerous changes after halftime.

Defender Lucas Hernandez also played down the significance of the ​defeat.

“We always want to win, but we’re in a phase of preparation, and there were a lot ‌of substitutions,” Hernandez said.

“We’re in good spirits.”

Deschamps, however, admitted his side had lost control of the contest after an encouraging opening 45 minutes and warned that France would face opponents with similar qualities in the United States.

“A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did ​some good things in ​the first half,” ⁠Deschamps said.

“In the second half, we made a lot of changes, but that’s no excuse. We were not as good after the ​break, and they brought a lot of pace.

“We will face the ​same type ⁠of team on June 16.”

The French coach said the result could prove useful if it prevented his players from becoming complacent before the tournament.

“It’s a reminder, if we needed one, ⁠not to ​think we’re better than we are,” he said, with ​Cherki adding: “It’s a little warning, and I can tell you we’re not going to the World Cup thinking ​we’re favourites, but we’re going to crush everyone.”

-Reuters

JOIN THE SPORTS VILLAGE SQUARE CHANNEL ON WHATSAPP:

https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja.

FIFA has announced a groundbreaking redesign of its pre-match ceremonies for the FIFA World Cup 2026, introducing a fan-focused spectacle that will place the entire matchday squad at the heart of the tournament’s opening rituals.

The new concept, unveiled on Thursday by world football’s governing body, aims to create a more immersive and inclusive experience for supporters while highlighting every player selected for a match, not just the starting line-up.

Set to debut at the expanded 48-team tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the revamped ceremony will feature a 360-degree stadium presentation designed to engage fans from every seat in the arena.

Under the new format, players will enter the pitch through dedicated arches located near their respective tunnels, accompanied by youth programme escorts. Giant country flag banners, handheld national flags and specially designed on-pitch elements will transform the stadium into a colourful showcase of national pride.

One of the most significant changes is that all members of the matchday squad, including substitutes, will gather around a central banner in the centre circle during the national anthems. This marks a departure from previous tournaments where only the starting XI participated in the anthem line-up.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the innovation reflects the organisation’s commitment to enhancing the World Cup experience for both players and fans.

“As the FIFA World Cup grows, we continue to innovate the way the game is experienced,” Infantino said.

“Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone in the stadium. The FIFA World Cup is about every player and every fan, and this new pre-match ceremony reflects that.”

Following the national anthems, traditional matchday rituals will continue, including team photographs, handshakes between players and officials, and the captains’ coin toss.

FIFA also revealed that selected matches later in the tournament will feature enhanced visual effects, including coloured smoke and pyrotechnics, to further heighten the atmosphere.

The ceremony has been developed around music from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, with organisers aiming to create a unique emotional connection between supporters and participants before kick-off.

In addition, FIFA’s commercial partners—including adidas, Coca-Cola, Kia, Mengniu, Qatar Airways and Quaker—will have integrated branding opportunities within the youth programme and players’ tunnel areas.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across three host nations. FIFA believes the new pre-match ceremony will provide a memorable and emotionally charged opening to every game as the competition ushers in a new era of fan engagement.

JOIN THE SPORTS VILLAGE SQUARE CHANNEL ON WHATSAPP:

https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H