The 2026 FIFA World Cup burst into life as Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats giant Burna Boy delivered a charged performance of the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai” at the opening ceremony.

Shakira took the stage following a rousing warm-up set by J Balvin, immediately seizing the stadium’s attention as the first notes of “Dai Dai” rang out. With her trademark hip-shaking choreography and commanding stage presence, she turned the vast arena into a sea of movement, flags and camera flashes as fans from around the world sang along.

Midway through the song, Burna Boy emerged to a roar from the crowd, striding onto the field to join Shakira on a massive turquoise-and-yellow flag unfurled across the pitch. The flag, emblazoned with the words “We are ready,” became both stage and symbol, framing the performance as a declaration of unity and anticipation for the tournament ahead.

The chemistry between the two artists was immediate and electric. Shakira’s Latin pop flair intertwined with Burna Boy’s rich Afrobeats rhythms, giving “Dai Dai” a global pulse that matched the World Cup’s multicultural spirit. Their choreography blended carnival-style energy with contemporary dance, while the stadium’s lighting and pyrotechnics amplified every beat of the track.

Beyond its role as the official World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai” carries a social mission. The song supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding access to education worldwide. That message of opportunity and inclusion echoed through the performance, underscoring football’s power to connect people across borders.

As the song reached its climax, Shakira and Burna Boy moved to the center of the field, leading tens of thousands of fans in the chant of the closing refrain: “Dale, allez, let’s go.” The multilingual call-and-response swept through the stadium, capturing the essence of a tournament shared by nations and cultures.

The performance quickly emerged as one of the defining moments of the opening ceremony, setting an exuberant tone for the month-long competition and cementing “Dai Dai” as the soundtrack of this World Cup.