The 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with a star-studded opening ceremony, but the celebrations were marred by violent protests outside the Azteca stadium. Global music star Shakira headlined the show, while hundreds of demonstrators, including mothers searching for missing children, clashed with police. The event marked the first World Cup on Mexican soil in 40 years, with the country co-hosting alongside the US and Canada.
The opening ceremony featured performances from Shakira, Colombia's J Balvin, Afrobeats star Burna Boy, Latin music star Danny Ocean, and Mexican singer Fher Olvera of Maná, who sang Oye Mi Amor. Opera superstar Andrea Bocelli and K-Pop singer Ejae performed the tournament's official anthem DNA. The show included dancers in indigenous clothing and giant golden footballs, and Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández sang the national anthem. The 82,000-seat stadium was packed, with fans celebrating as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening match.
“2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico with Shakira, protests by mothers of the disappeared, and a Shakira body-double conspiracy.”
Outside the stadium, tensions flared. Mexican officials said nearly 200 hooded individuals broke away from two groups of around 800 protesters and clashed with law enforcement, throwing rocks, bottles, and even bouquets of orange flowers. Riot police used shields, and nearby metro stations were temporarily closed. Among the protesters were teachers and families of those who have gone missing in Mexico's drug war. The mothers of the disappeared – madres buscadoras – breached security cordons, carrying banners with pictures of missing loved ones. Mexico has over 130,000 disappeared people, according to estimates cited by activists. The protests aimed to highlight these issues while the country was in the global spotlight.
The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by Mexico, the US, and Canada, with each hosting its own opening ceremony. The conhosts were scheduled to hold their opening ceremonies on Friday.
For UK readers, the World Cup is a major event, with England competing and matches broadcast on terrestrial TV. The opening ceremony's controversy may affect perceptions of the tournament's security and organisation. The Shakira body-double conspiracy theory also generated buzz online, with some questioning her appearance and dance moves.
Q: Was it really Shakira performing at the opening ceremony? A conspiracy theory on social media suggested the singer might have used a body double, with viewers questioning her hair, sunglasses, and dance moves. However, neither Shakira nor FIFA has commented, and no evidence supports the claim. The performance was widely broadcast as Shakira.
Q: Why were there protests at the World Cup opening ceremony? Protesters included teachers and families of Mexico's disappeared, demanding action on the country's drug war and missing persons crisis. They clashed with police outside the Azteca stadium, throwing projectiles and breaching security cordons. The demonstrations aimed to draw global attention to these issues.
Q: How did the match go for Mexico? Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa in the opening match, with fans celebrating inside the stadium. The victory set a positive tone for the host nation's campaign.
What happens next: The tournament continues with group matches across the three host nations. The US and Canada will host their opening ceremonies. Security measures will remain high, with further protests possible as the global spotlight stays on Mexico.