Mexico City, Jun 11 (V7N) – The 2026 FIFA World Cup will officially get underway on Thursday (June 11) with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match of Group A at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Prior to the match, football fans around the world will witness a grand opening ceremony featuring some of the biggest names in global music.
Colombian pop superstar Shakira is set to headline the ceremony alongside Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy. The duo will perform the tournament's official theme song, “Dai Dai,” at 11:30 pm Bangladesh time. Renowned Colombian artist J Balvin and Mexican rock band Maná are also scheduled to perform during the event.
The opening fixture carries echoes of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when Mexico and South Africa also met in the tournament's opening match. That encounter, played in Johannesburg, ended in a 1-1 draw. Sixteen years later, the two nations will once again launch a World Cup campaign against each other, this time in front of a passionate home crowd at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Mexico enter the tournament with confidence, backed by a solid defensive record. Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is set to make history by appearing in his sixth World Cup. Combining experienced campaigners with emerging talent, Mexico have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight matches.
South Africa, meanwhile, are expected to rely on their pace and counter-attacking ability. The African side has found the net in each of its last nine World Cup matches and will be aiming to upset the hosts in the tournament opener.
The World Cup celebrations will continue beyond Mexico. The second opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, featuring performances by Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette and Alessia Cara.
The final event of the opening celebrations will take place early Saturday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where international stars Katy Perry, Lisa, Future and Anitta are expected to perform in a Hollywood-style spectacle.
With an expanded 48-team format and three host nations, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be the biggest tournament in football history, beginning with a highly anticipated clash between Mexico and South Africa.
