2026 World Cup Opens in Style as Marvel Star Salma Hayek and Shakira Join Mexico Kickoff
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began with a star-filled opening celebration in Mexico City, bringing together sports, music, and global celebrities at Estadio Azteca on June 11.
Salma Hayek, Shakira, and J Balvin were among the biggest names involved in the opening event. The ceremony marked the start of the tournament in North America, with Mexico, the United States, and Canada hosting matches across the region.
Salma Hayek, who served as a World Cup ambassador, opened the ceremony with a speech. She appeared on stage at Estadio Azteca wearing a red pantsuit and spoke to the crowd in Spanish. She welcomed the participating nations and highlighted the importance of the tournament.
She said, “Together with Canada and the United States, we welcome the entire world as we receive the flags of the 48 nations that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Mexico 2026,” according to USA TODAY. She also added, “We are deeply honored that the opening match of this wonderful football tradition — which unites us all and lives on in Mexico and in the spirit of the game — is taking place here.” She ended her speech with, “Viva México y viva Fútbol.”
The opening ceremony also featured major musical performances. Shakira took the stage with Nigerian artist Burna Boy to perform the official World Cup song titled “Dai Dai.” She performed in a neon yellow outfit and was joined by a large group of dancers during her set. Burna Boy also performed alongside her, bringing an international music blend to the event.
After her performance, Shakira shared a message on Instagram. She wrote about unity, peace, and global hope during the tournament. She also highlighted the importance of education and opportunity for young people around the world. She ended her message by saying, “We are ready!”
J Balvin also performed during the ceremony. He delivered a lively set that included some of his popular songs, such as “Que Calor.” He also performed a duet with Castro on their new track “Una A La Vez,” adding more energy to the celebration.
Other artists also took part in the opening event. Tyla performed the South African national anthem, while Alejandro Fernández sang the Mexican national anthem. The performances reflected the global nature of the tournament and the mix of cultures involved in the World Cup.
After the ceremony, the first match of the tournament took place between Mexico and South Africa. Mexico won the game 2-0 in front of a home crowd at Estadio Azteca. Julián Quiñones scored the first goal early in the match, giving Mexico an advantage in the ninth minute.
South Africa struggled to respond and later went down to ten players after a red card in the second half. Mexico continued to control the game, and Raúl Jiménez secured the win with a second goal in the 67th minute.
More opening matches and events are scheduled across North America, including games in Canada and the United States, along with additional music performances from global artists.
The 2026 World Cup has started with a strong mix of football action and celebrity appearances, setting the tone for a tournament that aims to bring together fans from all over the world.
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