local flair dominate World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico

Pop star Shakira led a line-up of Latin singers who helped open the biggest ever World Cup before the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa on Thursday. The storied Azteca Stadium - officially known at the Mexico City Stadium during the World Cup - hosted the party and has been renovated for the 48-team tournament, which is being co-hosted with the United States and Canada.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Shakira performs during the opening ceremony before the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

After a series of flops when it comes to World Cup songs over the last three men's tournaments, football's governing body FIFA went back to Colombian Shakira for this year's edition after her 2010 song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" went viral. This year's song "Dai Dai" - written alongside Nigerian recording artist Burna Boy - was performed in front of a packed Azteca, which is the first arena on the globe to host three men's World Cups. - dpa