Brazilian Football Legends and Celebrities Shine at 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony in Mexico
Brazilian football legends and international celebrities celebrated the start of the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca with music, culture, and football.
- • The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, on June 11.
- • Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Cafu, Rivellino, Bebeto, Assis, and Ronaldo Fenômeno attended.
- • Musical performances featured Shakira and Burna Boy, among other Latin American artists.
- • The opening match was Mexico vs. South Africa, marking the tournament's official start.
Key details
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off on June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with a vibrant opening ceremony that brought together sports legends, celebrities, and cultural celebrations. The event featured dynamic musical performances and lively tributes to Latin American culture, spotlighting the fusion of sports and entertainment that marks the tournament's start.
Among the star-studded attendees were revered Brazilian football figures including Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Cafu, Rivellino, Bebeto, Assis, and Ronaldo Fenômeno, who added a touch of football nobility to the festivities. The event also boasted the presence of entertainment personalities and influencers.
The ceremony began at 2:30 PM (Brasília time) with performances by world-renowned artists. Colombian singer Shakira performed the official World Cup anthem "Dai Dai" alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy. Additional entertainers included Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez with his wife Fernanda Gómez, Argentine actor Julian Gil, former goalkeeper Oscar Perez, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla, creating a rich mosaic of international talent.
Following the opening ceremony, the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa commenced at 4 PM (Brasília time), reaffirming the historic 2010 World Cup opening game that concluded in a 1-1 draw. Both teams are in Group A alongside South Korea and the Czech Republic.
The opening celebration underscored the cultural and sporting significance of the World Cup's largest edition in history and has set a festive tone for the weeks ahead at the tournament’s kickoff venue.
All festivities were broadcast live on major Brazilian networks including TV Globo, SBT, and SporTV, with online streaming available through GeTV (Globoplay) and CazéTV (YouTube).
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (4)
Source comparison
Date of the opening ceremony
Sources report different dates for the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
ge.globo.com
"The official opening ceremony of the World Cup takes place on Thursday, November 11."
band.com.br
"The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup took place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico."
oglobo.globo.com
"Celebrities have begun arriving at the Estádio Azteca in Mexico City for the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to start on Thursday at 2:30 PM."
band.com.br
"The opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place at the Estádio Azteca in Mexico."
Why this matters: Source 405862 states the ceremony is on Thursday, November 11, while other sources indicate it has already taken place on June 11, 2026. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the understanding of when the event occurred.