By: Odeh Favour Adiya
Nigerian Afrobeats megastar, Burna Boy, is set to make history alongside Colombian pop queen, Shakira, as they perform the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City.
According to reports, the musical heavyweights will take the stage at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, just before the opening match between the host nation, Mexico, and South Africa. They will be performing the tournament’s official anthem titled Dai Dai.
In a statement released by football’s governing body, FIFA, the song is described as a celebration of football’s unique power to unite people across various cultures and continents. The title of the track, Dai Dai, is an Italian phrase that translates to “let’s go” or “come on,” and it is highly anticipated to be the major highlight of the opening event.
FIFA further noted that the collaboration brings together two of the world’s most influential musical voices to perfectly capture the energy, passion, and global spirit of the World Cup. The grand opening ceremony in Mexico is part of a triple-host celebration spanning across the tournament’s host nations.
Over in Canada, music stars Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are scheduled to headline the celebrations in Toronto on June 12, ahead of Canada’s opening clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla are also lined up to perform during the month-long football fiesta.
Also, American pop star Katy Perry and rapper Future are billed to thrill fans at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the United States take on Paraguay.
For Shakira, this performance marks a spectacular return to the World Cup stage, continuing her iconic relationship with global football following the massive success of her previous tournament anthems like Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) and La La La.
The global pop icon is also expected to grace the World Cup final on July 19, where she will co-headline the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show alongside pop legend Madonna and K-pop global sensations, BTS.
