Shakira Leads Opening Ceremony as FIFA World Cup Kicks Off in Mexico City

A crowd of 80,000 cheered the Colombian pop star and other performers, and Mexico won its opening match.

Shakira performs at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on May 2, 2026. Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off Thursday with an opening celebration in Mexico City, bringing together star-studded performances and highly anticipated soccer matchups.

More than 80,000 fans took to the Estadio Azteca stadium, where Colombian pop star Shakira performed at one of the three opening ceremonies.