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Shakira and Nigerian vocalist Burna Boy had the spectators retired of their seats successful the opening ceremonial for the 2026 World Cup successful the Estadio Azteca connected Thursday (June 11, 2026) up of the opening lucifer betwixt co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
The 48-team tourney is besides being hosted by the United States and Canada and volition diagnostic 104 games, culminating successful the last successful New Jersey connected July 19.
Dancers twirled astir a elephantine exemplary of the World Cup trophy portion fireworks went disconnected successful the historical 80,000-capacity stadium which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals and has been renovated for this year’s tournament.
Performers connected the transportation during the opening ceremonial earlier the commencement of the World Cup Group A shot lucifer betwixt Mexico and South Africa successful Mexico City, connected Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP
In the item of the ceremony, Colombian prima Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai”, the authoritative opus of the tournament, bringing roars from the crowd.
J Balvin and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli were among the different performers earlier kickoff arsenic the sound levels ramped up.
“It’s already a enactment successful Mexico,” Ingrid Orozco, a 40-year-old supporter, told AFP. “It’s amazing,” said Gustavo Ramírez, 19.
While determination was a festive ambiance wrong the stadium, determination were chaotic scenes successful the centre of Mexico City wherever thousands of fans pushed and shoved arsenic they attempted to participate the authoritative World Cup instrumentality portion soon earlier the 1800 GMT kickoff.
Access to the instrumentality portion successful Zocala plaza was hampered by metallic barriers erected successful caller days to forestall protesting teachers reaching the area.
“Stop pushing and shoving, determination are children here, you’re similar animals!” a metropolis authoritative shouted done a megaphone arsenic helium tried to power entree to the venue wherever the opening crippled was to beryllium shown connected a elephantine screen.
Some fans threw h2o bottles and hurled insults astatine constabulary arsenic good arsenic chanting successful enactment of the Mexican team.
“It’s crazy,” said Javier Maciel, a 25-year-old fan. “There could person been amended organization.”
The section authorities announced connected societal media that the tract was “full” and suggested fans spell to different plazas.
President Claudia Sheinbaum had been expected to ticker the crippled astatine the instrumentality portion but formed uncertainty connected her beingness pursuing days of protests successful the country by teachers demanding wage rises.
