Mexico City dazzles as 2026 World Cup kicks off in style
The 2026 World Cup opened in Mexico City with a star-studded ceremony and a match between Mexico and South Africa, accompanied by protests over costs and security.
Fireworks, a sweeping light show and performances by Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin opened the 2026 World Cup before more than 80,000 fans at a revamped Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday. Co-hosts Mexico kicked off the expanded 48-team tournament by playing South Africa at the steep concrete arena, officially renamed Mexico City Stadium but still widely known as Azteca.
The venue, which hosted World Cup openers in 1970 and 1986, became the first to stage the tournament's curtain-raiser three times, as Mexico shares hosting duties with the United States and Canada. Inside, fans waved flags, sang and filmed the pre-match show as the global spotlight returned to one of football's most storied venues.
Outside, demonstrations broke out near key transport routes and fan zones, with protesters denouncing the cost of staging the World Cup, tight security cordons around working-class neighborhoods and what they say is disruption to communities living in the stadium's shadow. Police and security forces ringed surrounding streets and funnelled supporters through checkpoints.
The official opening ceremony featured Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy performing the tournament's official song 'Dai Dai', as well as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and South Korean singer EJAE. Mexican pop rock band Mana's lead singer Fher Olvera also performed. The extravaganza is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey, US on July 19, and is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue.
