Shakira and Burna Boy will headline the first of three opening ceremonies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City. They will perform the tournament's official song 'Dai Dai' ahead of the opening match between co-host Mexico and South Africa on June 8.

FIFA has planned separate ceremonies for each host nation, with curtain-raisers before games in the United States and Canada as well. The Mexico lineup also includes Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla. More artists are to be announced for the US and Canada shows.

Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé will headline in Toronto on June 12 before Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later that day, Katy Perry, global pop star LISA, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop artist Anitta, and hip-hop artist Future will perform in Los Angeles ahead of USA vs Paraguay.

The trio of shows is being created by Italian producer Marco Balich, who was behind the spectacular opening ceremony for this year's Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Each show will be held about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Shakira is also among the headliners performing at a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the World Cup final, along with Madonna and boy band BTS. Diana Ross performed at the opening ceremony in Chicago when the World Cup was last held in the US in 1994 and famously missed a penalty kick as part of the show.

The song 'Dai Dai' aims to raise $100 million in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

Source: www.aljazeera.com