Blacktown City · New South Wales NPL · Attacker · #17 · Australia · 25 yrs
As Mexico gets ready to face South Africa in the tournament opener at Estadio Azteca, excitement is building around a star-studded opening ceremony that promises to capture the attention of millions around the globe. The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is almost over, and Shakira is once again preparing to take center stage at soccer’s biggest event. As Mexico gets ready to face South Africa in the tournament opener at Estadio Azteca, excitement is building around a star-studded opening ceremony that promises to capture the attention of millions around the globe. The opening celebration has already been described as one of the most ambitious in World Cup history. FIFA is introducing several firsts during the 2026 tournament, and the opening festivities are expected to showcase the cultural diversity of the three host nations while setting the tone for the month-long competition. The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first edition of the tournament to be hosted by three countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Mexico will have the honor of staging the opening match when the national team takes on South Africa in Mexico City. The ceremony is scheduled to begin approximately 90 minutes before kickoff, transforming the iconic Estadio Azteca into a global entertainment stage. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the celebrations as a unique opportunity to unite soccer, music, and culture. The governing body hopes the event will reflect both the individuality of each host nation and the shared spirit of the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup trophy. Shakira returns to the World Cup stage Few artists have become as closely associated with the World Cup as Shakira. After memorable appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2014, the Colombian superstar is preparing for her fourth overall World Cup performance. The singer will debut ‘Dai Dai’, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Nigerian superstar Burna Boy. The track has been designed to capture the energy and global spirit of the tournament while also supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. According to FIFA, royalties generated by the song will contribute to efforts aimed at expanding educational opportunities and soccer access for children around the world. The full lineup revealed While Shakira’s participation has generated enormous anticipation, she will not be the only major attraction on opening night. The official lineup performing before Mexico vs South Africa includes: Alejandro FernandezBelindaBurna BoyDanny OceanJ BalvinLila DownsLos Angeles AzulesManaShakiraTyla Mexican music legend Alejandro Fernandez is expected to perform the Mexican national anthem, while Grammy Award-winning Tyla will perform the South African anthem before kickoff. The lineup combines Latin music icons, international chart-toppers, and artists representing both participating nations, creating a celebration designed to reflect the global reach of the tournament.
For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will feature three separate opening ceremonies, divided across the host nations of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The 2026 World Cup is officially ready to make history. For the very first time, the tournament will feature an expanded field of 48 teams competing across three co-host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Along with a completely revamped format—which introduces a high-stakes Round of 32 knockout stage immediately following the group stage—the tournament will debut another historic first: three distinct opening ceremonies. Rather than a single celebration, a unique kickoff spectacle will take place ahead of the first home match in each host country, with Mexico starting the event at the Estadio Azteca. According to The Athletic, Mexico’s opening festivities will start 90 minutes before kickoff and are expected to run for approximately 16 minutes. Following the initial curtain-raiser, Canada will host its own ceremony at Toronto Stadium on Friday, June 12, which is projected to be slightly shorter at around 13 minutes. Later that same evening, the United States will cap off the opening spectacles with its own 13-minute ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium. The world’s game reaches its biggest stage in the USA 🇺🇸 The United States takes centre stage as football, music, and culture ignite the #FIFAWorldCup 🏆🎶🎆— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 9, 2026 Mexico’s opening ceremony Mexico shoulders the honor of staging the tournament’s primary opening ceremony right before El Tri faces off against South Africa in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2018 tournament opener. Actress Salma Hayek will serve as the master of ceremonies, welcoming the world and introducing a massive multi-genre, international musical showcase. Following the main production, and just before the players take the pitch, Alejandro Fernandez will perform Mexico’s national anthem, while Tyla will sing the national anthem for South Africa. Artist lineup: ShakiraAlejandro FernándezBurna BoyBelindaDanny OceanJ BalvinRyan CastroLila DownsLos Ángeles AzulesManáTylaAndrea BocelliEJAE Two more stars are joining the lineup for the opening ceremony in Mexico City! Andrea Bocelli and EJAE are ready for the global stage 🎶— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 10, 2026 Canada’s opening ceremony Following Thursday’s big kickoff, Canada takes center stage on Friday evening to host the second opening showcase just before Les Rouges take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Toronto Stadium in their Group B opener. Actor Will Arnett will host the festivities, introducing a highly diverse list of performers. Before the game starts, Alanis Morissette will perform Canada’s national anthem, while Aleksandar Gajic will sing the national anthem for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Artist lineup: Alanis MorissetteMichael BubléAleksandar GajićAlessia CaraElyannaJessie ReyezNora FatehiVegedreamWilliam PrinceDJ SanjoyThe BeachesBryan Adams The Toronto lineup just turned up the volume. 🎸@thebeaches joins Bryan Adams, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, AHI and Wyclef Jean at the FIFA Countdown Concert, in collaboration with the @recordingacad📅 June 10🎟️ Get your tickets now 📺 Watch live on TikTok— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 8, 2026 USA’s opening ceremony The final opening ceremony will also take place on Friday night, setting the stage just before the USMNT kicks off its World Cup campaign against Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in a Group D clash. Actor Jason Sudeikis will host the final star-studded show, which features a punchy lineup of pop and hip-hop stars. The musical duo Purahéi Soul will perform the national anthem for Paraguay, while country-pop duo Dan + Shay will sing the U.S. national anthem. Artist lineup: Katy PerryFutureTylaAnittaLISARemaDan + ShayPurahei SoulBIAMajor LazerDavido
Matías Fernández-Pardo dismissed rumors that he wanted to play for Spain before World Cup call-up by Belgium. Lille breakthrough Matías Fernández-Pardo sparked rumors after his roots in Spain made him a possible option for Luis de la Fuente, before Rudi Garcia called him up for Belgium to be part of the World Cup squad. The player explained his position in an interview with RTBF. Fernández-Pardo said: “I think the decision would have been the same if I had had the conversation earlier and not just a few weeks before the World Cup. You have to think long term. I never said I wanted to play for Spain and, if it was understood that way, my words were distorted. The national team coach understood my story well.” A trend that has been growing in recent years is players representing countries they were not born in because of their roots. In this case, Fernández-Pardo could have played for Spain or even Argentina, but he chose Belgium. García’s role Representing a country often means a great deal to players. In this case, Fernández-Pardo’s final decision was to wear Belgium’s colors. García convinced him (Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) That was heavily influenced by the conversations he had with Garcia, who helped convince the young player to represent Belgium and later included him in the 26-man squad. Fernández-Pardo said: “What triggered everything was my conversation with Vincent Mannaert (sporting director of Belgium) and Garcia. They convinced me: my mentality is more Belgian than Spanish. And I went through all the youth levels with Belgium. After that conversation it became clear, I said yes immediately and chose Belgium.” Fernández-Pardo’s season with Lille While he may not be one of the most famous names, his potential could soon take him to a bigger club. Fernández-Pardo has just completed a breakout season with Lille at only 21 years old, helping the club finish third in Ligue 1. The versatile attacking player scored eight goals and added five assists in 2,390 minutes.
