Shakira, Maná and Los Ángeles Azules star in an inauguration that celebrates Latin music and Mexican culture

Home Health Shakira, Maná and Los Ángeles Azules star in an inauguration that celebrates Latin music and Mexican culture
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June 11, 2026June 11, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Shakira, Maná and Los Ángeles Azules star in an inauguration that celebrates Latin music and Mexican culture

With a combination of Latin music, Afrobeats and representative expressions of Mexican culture, the Mexico City Stadium—formerly the Azteca Stadium—vibrated with performances by Shakira, Burna Boy, Los Ángeles Azules and other artists who united soccer, identity and spectacle during the inauguration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Before the match between the Mexican and South African teams, the International Association Football Federation (FIFA) celebrated the opening ceremony of the twenty-third edition of the tournament with a show full of color, rhythm and characteristic elements of Mexican culture.

When the clock struck 11:42 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, millions of football and music fans followed the opening ceremony. The show began with folk dance groups that represented elements of Mexican culture and gave way to the singer Lila Downs, who welcomed with the message: “Soccer unites us all.”

The artist appeared in a white huipil inspired by Mexican roots and offered interpretations of her speech in Mixtec. Surrounded by dancers and in front of a set inspired by the World Cup, she said: “People of the world, welcome to Mexico.”

The presentation continued with dances that incorporated plumage, typical costumes and papel picado. Then, Downs reiterated the welcome message to the 2026 Soccer World Cup.

At the end of their participation, the Mexican group Maná appeared through smoke to perform Hey my love. While Fernando Olvera sang, folklore dancers accompanied the performance around the main stage.

The audience responded immediately to the chorus of “Hey my love, don’t tell me no” and accompanied the band with the characteristic “ye, ye, ye” and “oh-oh-oh.” The performance concluded with applause and fireworks.

The rhythm changed with the arrival of Venezuelan Danny Ocean, who played Great gameone of the songs included in the official album of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dressed in a wine-colored suit and accompanied by folkloric dancers, he maintained the festive atmosphere in the stadium.

Then it was the turn of Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda, who performed for her. The presentation brought together dozens of dancers in a mix of cumbia and pop that maintained the energy of the show.

As the song’s chorus played, pairs of dancers twirled around the main stage, dominated by a World Cup reenactment. The rhythm of the cumbia motivated several attendees to get up from their seats to dance.

With costumes inspired by representative colors of Mexico, such as fuchsia, orange, lemon green and blue, the dancers celebrated the start of the tournament. At the end of this segment, two Labubu botargas attracted attention by raising the glass in front of the audience.

The scene changed when the cameras focused on a vehicle from which J Balvin appeared to perform how hot. He then descended and headed to the main stage, where he joined Ryan Castro to sing one at a time. The Colombian continued with I Like Itaccompanied by dozens of dancers dressed in formal suits of different colors.

The final stretch of the show was performed by Shakira, known by many fans as the “Queen of the World Cups.” The Colombian artist appeared with a group of dancers and performed Dai Daiwhich caused shouts and applause among those in attendance.

The Barranquilla native played the choreography from the official video to the rhythm of “Dai dai, 行こう, dale, allez, let’s go.” Later, the Nigerian Burna Boy joined the presentation accompanied by dancers dressed in white with yellow details.

While “Feel it, got everything you needed. Now bring it like you mean it. Come on, forget what it’s worth. Play as you know” played, dozens of dancers surrounded the artists to perform the official choreography of Dai Dai.

Amid fireworks, applause and ovations, the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded, a spectacle followed by millions of people around the world.

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