It’s World Cup season again! After years of planning and anticipation, it’s once again time for World Cup discourse to dominate the timelines and our screens. This season is particularly historic. It is the first FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, as well as the largest edition in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams.

Image Credit: FIFA

As host of the opening match, Mexico staged the first of three opening ceremonies that will continue across Canada and the United States. Produced in creative partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremony reimagined the FIFA World Cup Trophy through the lens of Mexican culture, a creative thread that will connect all three host nations’ celebrations. The opening ceremony in Mexico opened with a large-scale tribute to Mexico’s Indigenous and Aztec heritage, blending traditional dance, elaborate costumes, and striking visual storytelling before transitioning into the night’s musical performances. The venue itself was part of the spectacle as Estadio Azteca became the first stadium ever to host matches across three FIFA World Cups (1970, 1986, and 2026), adding another layer of history to the occasion.

Image Credit: FIFA

Legendary Mexican rock band Maná energised the home crowd with a performance that quickly transformed the stadium into a giant sing-along. However, the ceremony’s defining moment was the debut live performance of “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official anthem, by Shakira and Burna Boy. Complete with elaborate staging, dancers, and World Cup-inspired visuals, the performance instantly became one of the night’s most memorable highlights.

The star-studded performance lineup also featured Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla, star names who brought to life the sound of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album.

The ceremony then seamlessly transitioned into the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa, which ended with Mexico winning the match with two goals against South Africa’s zero.

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