World Cup 2026 opening ceremony LIVE: Shakira to kick off world’s biggest sporting event before Mexico v South Africa

On the day that USA ’94 started, as Jack Charlton tried to deliver instructions at Giants Stadium ahead of Ireland vs Italy the following evening, some of his players just couldn’t stop looking up. “My eyes were everywhere,” Andy Townsend said.

It wasn’t quite the World Cup as they knew it, but it was special. As Townsend and his teammates looked up, of course, the view was made all the more spectacular by how it reached into bright blue skies.

That remains the impression of USA ’94. Through all of the historic images, from a Romario toe-poke to the audacity of Gheorghe Hagi and Roberto Baggio’s final penalty miss, everything is so bright.

Miguel Delaney reflects on the impact of the previous World Cup in the US and discusses what legacy this summer’s tournament might leave:

As Mexico raises the curtain on this World Cup against South Africa, Alan Smith delves into all things Group A:

In one of the most evocative stadiums of all and under a searing afternoon sun, the World Cup will finally begin when Mexico face South Africa. And, for many, all the justifiable gripes with a bloated format, price gouging and political manoeuvring may instantly disappear following the first glimpse of the Azteca on their TV screens.

The co-hosts, on paper, should find this group – also joined by South Korea and Czech Republic – straightforward but the outstanding question is how they will cope with the pressure and an opening day win against the least heralded of this quartet appears a must.

This World Cup is set to make history with an unprecedented trio of star-studded opening ceremonies across its host nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Orchestrating these grand spectacles is Italian producer Marco Balich, renowned for his work on this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Each ceremony will feature top artistic performances designed to tap into the national identity, though Balich clarified that spectators should not anticipate a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza.

Instead, the events will blend welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball, and approximately 30 minutes of musical entertainment. “It’s a celebration of football, Fifa and the fact that, thanks to soccer, people get together in peace and harmony,” Balich affirmed.

This World Cup has three opening ceremonies lined up (because of course it does…) and the first of those is ahead of the opening match this evening.

Mexico will get World Cup proceedings underway with their opening ceremony at 6:30pm BST.

Held at Mexico City Stadium, better known worldwide as the Estadio Azteca, the ceremony will take place ahead of the Group A clash between Mexico and South Africa, a repeat of the clash that raised the curtain on the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

Shakira and Burna Boy are poised to headline the spectacle, performing the official tournament song, Dai Dai. Additional performers include Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla.

So if any of those artists are your cup of tea, then, erm… enjoy!

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the opening ceremony from World Cup 2026 and then the first game of the tournament – Mexico v South Africa.

From Shakira to Raul Jimenez, the next eight hours or so promises to have everything as the world’s biggest sporting event kicks off.