The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off, and fans anticipate nonstop action. The earliest excitement of the tournament came from a trilogy of opening ceremonies. A wave of international stars lit up stages in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In a defining cultural crossover, a powerhouse lineup of African stars has featured prominently across FIFA’s biggest event.

Burna Boy and Tyla Take Centre Stage at Estadio Azteca

Grammy winner, Burna Boy, joined Colombian singer Shakira to headline the opening ceremony at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. The duo delivered the first live performance of “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, before a crowd of 80,000 fans and a global television audience. The performance marked another major international milestone for the Nigerian star, who has become one of the few African artists to lead an official World Cup song.

Burna Boy and Shakira perform during the Opening Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Just before the opening match between South Africa and Mexico, South African singer Tyla delivered a stirring rendition of her country’s national anthem.

A Trilogy of Ceremonies: Rema and Davido Ignite the US

The 2026 tournament is uniquely distributed across three host nations, so the festivities quickly expanded beyond Mexico City into the United States and Canada.

At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Rema took the stage under a Hollywood spotlight, performing “Goals” alongside K-pop star Lisa and Brazilian artist Anitta. The high-energy performance blended Afrobeats, pop, and Latin rhythms, celebrating the multicultural identity of the North American games. At the United States opening ceremony, Tyla was back on stage alongside American rapper, Future, to perform “Game Time” before the opening match between USA and Paraguay.

Tyla and Rema performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening in Los Angeles

Meanwhile, at the pre-tournament Countdown Concert in Los Angeles, Davido used the global stage to draw attention to the recent abductions of students and teachers in Nigeria.

African Stars on the FIFA World Cup Album

African artists did not only appear on the opening ceremony stages. They also secured a strong presence on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup tracklist include

“Dai Dai” – Burna Boy and Shakira

“Goals” – Rema, Lisa and Anitta

“No Place Like Home” – Davido, Major Lazer and Nelly Furtado

“Show Me” – Ayra Starr and Latto

“Game Time” – Tyla and Future