Colombian global music star Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy are set to take centre stage at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will perform the tournament’s official anthem, Dai Dai.
The performance is scheduled for June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, ahead of the tournament’s opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa.
According to BBC Sport, the two award-winning artists will debut Dai Dai as part of a high-profile ceremony designed to showcase the cultural diversity and global appeal of football’s biggest competition.
In a statement announcing the performance, FIFA described the song as a tribute to the unifying power of football and its ability to connect people across nations, cultures and generations.
“Dai Dai is a celebration of football’s power to unite people across cultures and continents,” FIFA said.
The title, derived from a popular Italian expression meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” reflects the excitement, optimism and collective energy that accompany the World Cup. FIFA said the anthem was created to capture the passion and spirit of a tournament that will bring together millions of fans across the globe.
Joining Shakira and Burna Boy at the opening ceremony will be Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla, adding further international flavour to an event expected to attract a worldwide television audience.
FIFA said the selection of performers reflects the tournament’s global character and the growing influence of artists from different regions of the world.
“We wanted a song that captures the energy, passion and global spirit of the FIFA World Cup,” the governing body stated. “Shakira and Burna Boy bring together two of the world’s most influential musical voices.”
The Mexico City event is one of several opening celebrations planned across the three host nations. In Canada, singers Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are expected to headline festivities ahead of Canada’s opening fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.
In the United States, pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future are scheduled to perform before the host nation’s opening match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
For Shakira, the performance marks another chapter in her longstanding association with the FIFA World Cup. The Colombian singer delivered one of the most successful football anthems in history with Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and later released La La La (Brazil 2014) ahead of the tournament in Brazil.
Burna Boy’s inclusion further underscores the growing prominence of African music on the global stage. The Grammy Award-winning artist has become one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports, performing at major international events and collaborating with some of the biggest names in global entertainment.
FIFA has also announced that Shakira will return for the World Cup final on July 19, where she is expected to co-headline the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show alongside pop icon Madonna and South Korean music group BTS.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams and matches hosted across Mexico, the United States and Canada. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
