The 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to a spectacular start in Mexico City, with global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy delivering a dazzling performance that set the tone for the biggest tournament in football history.
The opening ceremony at the iconic Estadio Azteca featured colourful costumes, fireworks and vibrant choreography before co-hosts Mexico kicked off the competition against South Africa in the first of 104 matches scheduled across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Shakira thrilled fans with a performance of “Let’s Go,” the official song of the tournament, while Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy joined her on stage to perform “Dai Dai,” creating one of the standout moments of the ceremony.
The star-studded event marked the beginning of the first-ever 48-team World Cup, which will be played across 16 host cities and is expected to attract record-breaking attendance figures.
Mexico ensured the celebrations continued by securing a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a dramatic opening match at the Estadio Azteca.
Julian Quinones put the hosts ahead early in the game after capitalising on a defensive error before veteran striker Raul Jimenez doubled the advantage in the second half with his first-ever goal at a World Cup finals.
However, the match was overshadowed by disciplinary drama, with three players sent off. Two South African players received red cards, while Mexico’s Cesar Montes was dismissed deep into stoppage time.
The encounter marked the first time in World Cup history that an opening match produced three red cards and only the seventh game overall to witness such a high number of dismissals.
Mexico’s victory also ended a long-standing record, as the country had failed to win any of its previous seven World Cup opening matches.
Attention now shifts to the second Group A encounter between South Korea and the Czech Republic, while football fans around the world continue to soak in the excitement of a tournament expected to be the largest and most commercially successful in FIFA history.
Away from the action on the pitch, controversy has also surrounded the tournament after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States despite initially receiving visa approval. FIFA later confirmed that the official would not participate in the competition but had been appointed to officiate in the UEFA Super Cup later this year.
