…Burna Boy, Shakira and the billion-view performance opening football’s greatest show
The countdown to the biggest football festival on earth has begun, and this time, the opening act promises to be as electrifying as the tournament itself.
When millions of football fans across the globe tune in to watch the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, their first taste of the spectacle will not come from a football boot or a referee’s whistle. Instead, it will arrive through the voices of two music superstars from different continents but united by global appeal, Burna Boy and Shakira.
For Burna Boy, the announcement represents more than another international performance. It is a defining moment in the remarkable rise of African music on the global stage.
The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist will join Colombian music icon Shakira to perform “Dai Dai”, the tournament’s official anthem, before hosts Mexico face South Africa in the opening match. FIFA describes the song as a celebration of football’s unique power to unite people across cultures, languages and borders.
The title “Dai Dai”, derived from an Italian expression meaning “Let’s Go” or “Come On”, perfectly captures the energy and anticipation surrounding a tournament expected to attract billions of viewers worldwide.
For many Nigerian fans, Burna Boy’s selection is another powerful statement about Africa’s growing influence in global entertainment. From sold-out stadiums in Europe and North America to Grammy victories and chart-topping international collaborations, Burna Boy has steadily transformed from a local star into one of the most recognisable African musicians of his generation.
His appearance on football’s grandest stage follows a growing trend of Afrobeats artists becoming central figures in major international events. Nigerian stars are no longer merely exporting music; they are helping shape global pop culture.
Yet Burna Boy will share the spotlight with perhaps the most successful World Cup performer in history.
Shakira’s relationship with football’s showpiece tournament has become almost legendary. Her 2010 World Cup anthem, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, remains one of the most successful sporting songs ever recorded. More than a decade later, it continues to echo through stadiums, fan zones and playlists across the world.
She followed that success with “La La La” during the 2014 tournament, further cementing her status as football’s unofficial queen of opening ceremonies.
FIFA’s decision to pair Shakira and Burna Boy appears designed to reflect the tournament’s increasingly global character. One represents Latin America’s enduring influence on football culture; the other embodies Africa’s fast-rising cultural power.
The entertainment programme extends far beyond Mexico City. Colombian reggaeton sensation J Balvin and South African star Tyla are also expected to feature during the opening celebrations, creating a blend of sounds that mirrors football’s worldwide appeal.
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In Canada, Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will headline festivities before the host nation’s opening fixture, while the United States is preparing a star-studded show featuring Katy Perry and Future before America’s clash with Paraguay.
Perhaps most significantly, FIFA is introducing a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the World Cup final on July 19. Reports indicate that Shakira will return to perform alongside Madonna and South Korean supergroup BTS, signalling a new era in which football and entertainment are becoming more intertwined than ever before.
For Burna Boy, however, the opening ceremony remains the headline attraction.
The Port Harcourt-born superstar has spent years carrying the Afrobeats flag to some of the world’s biggest stages. Performing the official World Cup anthem places him before what could be the largest live audience of his career.
As football prepares to unite nations across three host countries – Mexico, the United States and Canada, the image of Burna Boy and Shakira sharing a stage may ultimately symbolise something larger than music itself.
It is a reflection of a changing world where African sounds, Latin rhythms and global football culture increasingly move to the same beat.
On June 11, before the first ball is kicked and before the first goal is scored, Burna Boy and Shakira will deliver the opening note to what promises to be the most expansive World Cup in history.
And for millions of fans, that note may be impossible to forget.