Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
History was made at Estadio Azteca on Thursday night as Burna Boy delivered one of the most significant performances of his career—and of Afrobeats on the global stage. The Nigerian megastar joined forces with Colombian icon Shakira to perform “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in front of more than 80,000 roaring fans and countless millions streaming worldwide from Mexico City.
The electrifying performance saw Shakira kick things off on the pitch, commanding the choreography alongside her dance troupe before Burna Boy emerged to thunderous applause. Together, they brought the tournament’s official anthem to life, closing with a multilingual rally cry—”Dale, allez, let’s go!”—that captured the global spirit of the World Cup. As the final notes echoed through the legendary stadium, plumes of red and green smoke shot into the night sky, paying homage to Mexico’s national colors and punctuating a moment that won’t soon be forgotten.
For Burna Boy, this represents an unprecedented milestone for Nigerian and African music. Standing center stage at the world’s most-watched sporting event signals just how far Afrobeats has come on the international scene. Meanwhile, Shakira returned to World Cup glory sixteen years after her unforgettable “Waka Waka” anthem defined South Africa 2010. The opening ceremony also featured standout moments from Tyla and Megan Thee Stallion, with Mexican legend Alejandro Fernández performing the national anthem and Tyla honoring South Africa with theirs. World Cup Ambassador Salma Hayek Pinault welcomed the global audience before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa kicked off the tournament.
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