Shakira returned to the World Cup stage in Mexico City on Friday, 12 June 2026, performing her new tournament trackDai Daiwith Nigerian star Burna Boy at the Estadio Azteca — rebranded as Mexico City Stadium for the tournament. Sixteen years afterWaka Wakabecame one of football’s defining tournament songs in South Africa 2010, her return marked a symbolic full-circle moment for the global superstar.
The performance lacked the infectious energy of her 2010 hit, hampered by an extended Afrobeats middle section that drained momentum. Though Shakira looked radiant in a bright yellow sporty outfit evoking her Colombian roots, her choreography felt under-rehearsed amid the musical shift. The studio version ofDai Daialready suggested it was polished for radio rather than stadium impact, and the live rendition confirmed this — it was a competent tournament track, but not a showstopper.
Star-studded line-up, uneven execution
Veteran Mexican rock band Mana kicked off the musical segment with their anthemOye Mi Amor, before Colombian star J Balvin entered on what appeared to be a car made of papier-mâché for a medley includingUna A La VezandI Like It. Danny Ocean delivered his official tournament songPartizado, a sunny reggaeton jam, and Mexican icon Belinda joined Los Angeles Azules for a fun fusion of pop and cumbia inPor Ella.
The ceremony’s visual design leaned into Mexican festivity — a giant World Cup trophy styled likepapel picado, the traditional Mexican cut-paper craft used in celebrations, sat centre stage. Dancers in feathered headdresses beat drums while performers in metallic costumes carried giant footballs across the pitch. A woman with long plaits walked among the performers, raised her hands to welcome the audience, and invoked football’s spirit of celebration — a fine sentiment, though it wasn’t fully woven into the narrative flow.
As for the ceremony itself, it was bright and zippy — perhaps a bit too zippy. It had plenty of colour, drums and dancers, but not enough context on what it represented. From start to finish, the pacing felt rushed, and the storytelling lacked cohesion. Despite the star power and visual flair, the event came across as undercooked — a missed chance to fully capture Mexico’s rich heritage on football’s biggest stage.
Looking ahead
With the group stage underway, attention now shifts to the tournament’s final half-time show — where Shakira is expected to deliver a hits-packed performance that finally letsDai Daifade into the background and spotlight her classic anthems. If Friday’s opener is any indication, fans are hoping for a more dynamic, emotionally resonant finale that leans into her legacy rather than a new single.
