World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Setlist: Songs and “Dai Dai”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 began in Mexico City with a show shaped by Latin pop, Mexican rock, cumbia, Afrobeats, opera and national anthems.
At the center was “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy, the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song. But the opening ceremony was not built around one track alone. It also included Maná, Danny Ocean, Los Ángeles Azules with Belinda, J Balvin with Ryan Castro, and the official anthem “DNA” performed by Andrea Bocelli, EJAE and David Guetta.
Quick Answer: What Songs Were Performed?
The Mexico City opening ceremony included Maná’s “Oye Mi Amor,” Danny Ocean’s “Partidazo,” Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda’s “Por Ella,” J Balvin’s medley with “Que Calor,” “Una A La Vez” and “I Like It,” Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai,” and “DNA” by Andrea Bocelli, EJAE and David Guetta.
The pre-match program also included the South African national anthem performed by Tyla and the Mexican national anthem performed by Alejandro Fernández.
World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Setlist
- “Oye Mi Amor” – Maná
Maná gave the ceremony one of its strongest Mexican rock moments. “Oye Mi Amor” is not a new World Cup song, but it worked because many fans already know it. The performance helped root the show in Mexican popular music.
- “Partidazo” – Danny Ocean
Danny Ocean performed “Partidazo,” a track from the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album. The title fits the setting directly: in Spanish, “partidazo” can describe a big match or a great game. The song brought a light pop-reggaeton sound to the ceremony.
- “Por Ella” – Los Ángeles Azules & Belinda
“Por Ella” connected Belinda with Los Ángeles Azules, one of Mexico’s best-known cumbia groups. The performance gave the show a warm, dance-driven sound and made the Mexico City setting feel present.
- J Balvin Medley: “Que Calor,” “Una A La Vez” and “I Like It”
J Balvin performed a medley built around rhythm and recognition. “Que Calor” brought quick stadium energy, Ryan Castro joined him for “Una A La Vez,” and “I Like It” connected the show to a wider international pop audience.
The medley showed how the ceremony moved between Mexico, Latin America and global pop without losing its Latin center.
- “Dai Dai” – Shakira & Burna Boy
“Dai Dai” was the main World Cup song of the opening ceremony.
For Shakira, the performance continued her long connection with World Cup music. Burna Boy’s presence gave the track a wider global sound, connecting Latin pop with Afrobeats.
The song is built for a stadium. It does not depend on a detailed story. Instead, it works through rhythm, repetition and a feeling of arrival. That makes it fit the first major moment of a tournament taking place across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
“Dai Dai” does not try to explain the World Cup. It marks the moment when it begins.
- “DNA” – Andrea Bocelli, EJAE & David Guetta
“DNA” was the official anthem moment of the ceremony.
The recorded version features Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, EJAE and Megan Thee Stallion. At the Mexico City opening ceremony, the performance was led by Bocelli, EJAE and Guetta.
Where “Dai Dai” works through rhythm and movement, “DNA” is more ceremonial. It gives the tournament a larger, more dramatic sound.
National Anthems and Lila Downs
Tyla performed the South African national anthem before Mexico played South Africa. Alejandro Fernández performed the Mexican national anthem.
This distinction matters because Fernández also appears on the official World Cup album with “Mi México Lindo,” but his confirmed performance before kick-off was the national anthem.
Lila Downs was also part of the ceremony. Her role was not a standard pop performance. She welcomed fans and players in Spanish, English and Indigenous languages, giving the show a stronger connection to Mexico’s culture and history.
Which Songs Were Not Part of the Mexico City Setlist?
Some official World Cup album songs should not be listed as confirmed Mexico City performances.
That includes “Mi México Lindo” by Alejandro Fernández. It is part of the official album, but it was not the song he performed before kick-off.
It also includes “Game Time” by Future and Tyla. The track belongs to the wider World Cup music program, but Tyla’s Mexico City role was tied to the South African national anthem.
This is the key difference: World Cup 2026 has official songs, an official anthem, album tracks, ceremony performances and national anthems. Not every album song was performed in Mexico City.
What the Setlist Says About World Cup 2026
The World Cup 2026 opening ceremony setlist was bigger than “Dai Dai,” but Shakira and Burna Boy’s song was the clearest center of the show.
“Dai Dai” gave the tournament its main official song. “DNA” gave it the anthem moment. Maná, Danny Ocean, Los Ángeles Azules, Belinda, J Balvin and Ryan Castro added the Latin and Mexican sounds that shaped the Mexico City ceremony.
Together, the songs made the opening feel local and international at once — rooted in Mexico, but built for a global stage.
Further Reading