Mexican traditions and music, Shakira's anthem 'Dai Dai', accompanied by Nigerian star Burna Boy, Andrea Bocelli, and the message that "football unites the world": the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City hosted the first of three opening ceremonies for the 2026 World Cup, with artistic direction by another Italian, Marco Balich.

Three are the countries organizing the first 48-team World Cup : Mexico , Canada (in Toronto) and the USA (in Los Angeles).

Just minutes before the Mexico-South Africa match, at the Azteca (which also hosted the opening ceremonies of the 1970 and 1986 editions), there will be a focus on Mexican art, with dancers in indigenous costumes and women in traditional dress, all to the rhythm of percussionists to celebrate "unity, diversity and ancestral culture."

At the center of the pitch, a papier-mâché reproduction of a gigantic World Cup. Then came performances by Mexican band Maná, Venezuelan pop singer Danny Ocean, Los Ángeles Azules, Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, and Spanish-Mexican singer Belinda. Then came the fireworks display with the "Dai Dai" chant, applauded by over 80,000 spectators at the Azteca stadium. A second appearance for Shakira, who sang "Waka Waka" in 2010 , and a second for South Africa vs. Mexico, the same match that also opened the World Cup 16 years ago, with the Africans as hosts. After the two teams' warm-up, the official event began with the parade of the flags of the 48 participating teams and a performance by Andrea Bocelli of "Dna," another 2026 World Cup anthem, set to electronic music by David Guetta.

And before kick-off for Mexico vs. South Africa, FIFA President Gianni Infantino placed the World Cup in the center of the grandstand. There was celebration inside the Azteca, and outside in other areas of Mexico City, protests by the teachers' union and other organizations, such as the Mothers of the Disappeared, and public order problems , with clashes and police interventions, occurred near one of the fan zones set up for the World Cup.

(Unioneonline/AD)

© Riproduzione riservata