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Colombian superstar Shakira will perform before the 2026 World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca, adding another chapter to her remarkable relationship with the World Cup. The countdown to one of the planet’s most anticipated sporting spectacles is reaching a fever pitch, bringing an unparalleled wave of musical excitement along with it. Colombian superstar Shakira will perform before the 2026 World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca, adding another chapter to her remarkable relationship with the World Cup. The tournament has always blended soccer and entertainment, but few artists have become as closely associated with the competition as Shakira. From unforgettable anthems to spectacular live performances, her presence has helped shape the musical identity of several World Cups across two decades. The 2026 edition will be unlike any other in FIFA history. For the first time, the competition is being hosted by three countries, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with each nation staging its own opening ceremony. Mexico will launch the tournament with a star-studded celebration before facing South Africa in the opening match. Among the biggest attractions will be Shakira and Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, who are set to perform ‘Dai Dai’, the official song of the 2026 World Cup. How many World Cup opening ceremonies has Shakira performed at? While Shakira has appeared at several FIFA World Cups throughout her career, the 2026 event will mark only her second appearance at an official World Cup opening ceremony. Her first opening ceremony performance came at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where she introduced ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’. It has since become one of the most successful and recognizable World Cup anthems ever produced. The 2026 ceremony in Mexico City will therefore be her second World Cup opening ceremony appearance, more than 16 years after her memorable performance in South Africa. Although she has been involved in four World Cups overall, her appearances have been divided between opening and closing celebrations. Singer Shakira performs during the closing ceremony prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final Why FIFA continues to turn to Shakira Shakira’s connection with the World Cup began long before 2026. In 2006, she performed ’Hips Don’t Lie’ during festivities surrounding the tournament in Germany, introducing herself to soccer audiences around the globe. Four years later, she reached another level with ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’. The song became a global phenomenon, turning into one of the defining tracks of the South Africa tournament and remaining popular long after the final whistle. Her World Cup journey continued in 2014 when she performed ‘La La La (Brazil 2014)’ during celebrations linked to the tournament in Brazil. The song quickly became another fan favorite and further strengthened her connection with FIFA’s biggest event. Now, 2026 represents her fourth World Cup appearance overall and her second appearance at an opening ceremony. FIFA’s decision to place Shakira at the center of the opening festivities is hardly surprising. Her music has consistently transcended borders, cultures, and languages, making her one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world.
Comparisons between Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi have become increasingly common, especially with the Spaniard’s consistently mind-boggling performances.Former Real Madrid and Spain ...
A missing country from the 2026 World Cup is Wales after they failed to qualify. There were not many reasons to miss out on the 2026 World Cup after the tournament expanded to 48 teams. However, Wales were among those who failed to qualify for the competition. While they no longer have names like Gareth Bale, Wales came close to earning a place. They did not perform well enough in their group, finishing behind Belgium, but they were able to reach the playoff round introduced for this edition. A total of 16 teams were part of this round, divided into four groups that each offered one spot, with a semifinal and a final. Wales were drawn against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semifinal, which they lost on penalties. Wales’ World Cup history It has not been very common for Wales to take part in this competition when looking at their record of just two appearances in their long history since the sport was created. That makes it more understandable not to see them often in the final rounds. Bale led Wales to Qatar after a long time (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Their first appearance came a long time ago, when far fewer countries were able to take part in the competition, since it was in 1958 in Sweden, when just 16 teams competed for the prestigious trophy. Their qualification for the edition played in Qatar was celebrated across the country. Their participation in the latest tournament ended a 64-year drought at the highest level. Their best performance Their first appearance in this competition also brought their best performance, even in a strong run in their debut. They were able to move on from the group stage as the second team behind Sweden after beating Hungary in a tie-breaker match. Wales lost 1-0 to Brazil, with a goal from Pelé.
Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Tom Garry and Marva Kreel to discuss England’s failure to qualify automatically for the 2027 World Cup and the uncertain future facing Durham.On today’s pod: The panel assess a frustrating end to England’s World Cup qualifying campaign, as the Lionesses miss out on automatic qualification for Brazil 2027 and must now navigate the play-offs.The panel discuss the Lionesses’ heaviest defeat in 17 years as Spain ran riot in Mallorca, debate Sarina Wiegman’s tactical approach and squad selection, and ask what England’s performances against Spain and Ukraine reveal about the team ahead of next year’s World Cup. Continue reading...
Costa Rica are one of the few team that are going to be missing at the 2026 World Cup. Not many competitive nations are missing the 2026 World Cup after the tournament expanded to 48 teams, but Costa Rica were one of the few that failed to qualify. The reason for their elimination is simple: Costa Rica did not qualify because they finished in their group in the final round. Only the three group winners advanced directly, while the two best runners-up moved on to a playoff for the remaining spot. Costa Rica could not do enough to secure even a playoff place after six matches. They finished behind surprising group leaders Haiti, who had 11 points, and Honduras, who finished with 9 points and still did not reach the playoff round. Costa Rica’s 7 points were better than Nicaragua’s total of 4 points. A great run that ended For this edition, it was expected to be an easier path to the World Cup than before because the three biggest teams were not taking part. With the United States, Mexico, and Canada out of the competition, smaller teams had a chance to make history. Bryan Ruiz was the captain in 2014 (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) That led to changes in the format, but Costa Rica’s strong run came to an end after three straight World Cup appearances, giving them six in total. This century has been a strong one for Costa Rica, who first appeared in a World Cup in 1990. However, from 2000 to the present, they had only missed out in 2010 before this one, which came as a surprise to fans. The best performance While their debut in 1990 was especially strong, with a run to the round of 16, what they did in 2014 is still hard to match. Not only did they win a group that included Italy, Uruguay, and England, they also beat Greece in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw that stayed level through extra time. Their quarterfinal ended in a penalty shootout loss to the Netherlands after another draw in regulation.
Caitlin Foord ends her 150th match with a goal as Australia defeat visitors 3-1 in much improved performance After tonight we won’t see the Matildas in action again for another four months … and then the 2027 World Cup won’t be far away at all!Time for the national anthems. There appears to be a strong Mexican contingent in the crowd in Parramatta. Continue reading...
Pep Guardiola has won the Champions League three times as a manager, but the Spaniard believes domestic leagues hold more weight. The post Guardiola: League performance defines success, not Champions League appeared first on SoccerNews.
It’s no longer news that women’s sports is becoming an increasingly lucrative industry. There is more investment, better coverage, and bigger audiences than ever before. As a result, players' unions across the board are pushing for higher pay, as well as improved benefits and working conditions. But when will their paycheques catch up with their skill?
