Shakira and Burna Boy Will Open the 2026 World Cup With Official Anthem 'Dai Dai'

Shakira is coming back to the World Cup stage, and this time she's bringing the King of Afrobeat with her.

The Colombian superstar and Nigerian icon Burna Boy will debut "Dai Dai," the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during the opening ceremony on June 11 at Estadio Ciudad de Mexico. FIFA confirmed the lineup Thursday, and it's stacked — Shakira headlines alongside Burna Boy, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and South African sensation Tyla.

This will be Shakira's fourth World Cup anthem. She kicked things off with "Hips Don't Lie — Bamboo" at Germany 2006, gave the planet "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" for South Africa 2010 — still the most-watched World Cup song on YouTube with over 3.8 billion views — and brought "La La La (Brazil 2014)" for the tournament in Brazil. The woman is basically the World Cup's house band at this point, and FIFA keeps calling her back because she delivers the kind of global crossover moment that makes tournaments memorable.

But she's not just doing the kickoff. Shakira is also booked for the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. Bookends. Opening ceremony and closing night. That's the kind of booking that says FIFA knows exactly who delivers on the biggest stage and trusts to carry both the launch and the landing.

The opening ceremony lineup is a deliberate reflection of the tournament's tri-national identity. Mexico, Canada, and the United States are co-hosting for the first time in World Cup history, and the music selection spans the Americas. Regional Mexican acts like Los Angeles Azules and Mana sit alongside reggaeton heavyweight J Balvin, pop stars like Belinda and Danny Ocean, folk powerhouse Lila Downs, and South African pop sensation Tyla representing the global south. Burna Boy's presence adds Afrobeat to the mix, reflecting the African continent's growing influence on global music and the diaspora connections that soccer itself represents.

The ceremony kicks off 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. The first of three opening ceremonies across the tri-national tournament — Canada and the United States will host their own events as matches move north through the group stage. Mexico gets the honor of kicking off the whole thing, which is fitting given the country's deep soccer culture and Estadio Ciudad de Mexico's history as a two-time World Cup final venue.

"Dai Dai" isn't just a party track either. FIFA is tying the release to the FIFA Foundation and Global Citizen's education initiative, aiming to raise $100 million by the end of the tournament to give kids worldwide access to soccer and quality education. Shakira has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003 and has donated millions through her Pies Descalzos Foundation, so the partnership is a natural fit. The song's proceeds will go directly to the initiative.

Estadio Ciudad de Mexico, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, has been renovated with new lighting, sound systems, and VIP areas specifically for the tournament. The 87,000-seat venue will be the first to sound the 2026 tournament's official anthem, adding another chapter to its storied history — a history that includes Pelé's last World Cup appearance and Maradona's "Hand of God" match.

For Shakira, it's a return to the stage that made "Waka Waka" a planetary phenomenon. For Burna Boy, it's another milestone in a career that's won Grammys, sold out arenas worldwide, and turned Afrobeat into a global force. And for everyone watching on June 11, it's the soundtrack to the summer.

Set your alarms for June 11. Mexico versus South Africa follows the ceremony. The world will be watching.