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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
James Robson

World Cup opening ceremony headliners confirmed ahead of big kickoff

  • Shakira and Burna Boy are scheduled to headline the first World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City next week, performing the official tournament song, Dai Dai, ahead of the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
  • Fifa has organised three distinct opening events across the host nations, with further celebrations planned for Canada and the United States.
  • The Mexico City spectacle will feature additional performers such as Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, J Balvin, and Maná, while Toronto will host Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé, and Los Angeles will see performances from Katy Perry, LISA, and Anitta.
  • Italian producer Marco Balich, renowned for his work on the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony, is orchestrating these three elaborate productions, with each show commencing approximately 90 minutes before kick-off.
  • The official song, Dai Dai , aims to raise $100 million for the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund, and Shakira is also slated to perform at a Super Bowl-style half-time show for the World Cup final alongside Madonna and K-pop group BTS.

IN FULL

Shakira and Burna Boy to headline first World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City

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