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Emilio Estefan announced this Thursday that Miami Sound Machine will perform at the opening ceremony of one of the matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 3rd.
The Cuban-American producer made the announcement during the release of his official song for the World Cup album, held this Wednesday at the Gary Nader Arts Center in the Wynwood district of Miami, with the presence of the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.
"This evening marks the first party of the grand FIFA celebration, and don't miss July 3rd. I will open the stadium with Miami Sound Machine. Get ready," declared Estefan to the attendees of the event.
The match on July 3rd corresponds to the Round of 32 and will be held at 6 PM at the Miami Gardens stadium, officially renamed "Miami Stadium" for the tournament.
The evening also served to present "Love Always Wins" — released in Spanish as "El amor siempre gana" — the song that Estefan wrote and produced for the official album of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The piece is performed by Zema, an emerging vocalist of roots reggae, featuring the Jamaican-American artist Shaggy and the Cuban artist Cimafunk, bringing together musical traditions from the regions of the three host countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Infantino celebrated the message of the song and the atmosphere of the night: "When we unite art, music, and football, magic happens, celebration occurs, we bring the world together," stated the head of world football.
For Estefan, born in Cuba and an iconic figure in Miami, the night had a deeply personal resonance. A winner of 26 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he recalled the obstacles he faced at the beginning of his career alongside Gloria Estefan in Miami Sound Machine.
"When we started, it was very difficult to develop a new sound with a name that everyone wanted to change. Everyone wanted to change our last name. We didn’t change it because we felt proud," he said.
Estefan was recognized in May 2025 as "Pioneer" of Latino sports in the United States for his support of Latino empowerment, his role as a minority co-owner of the Miami Dolphins, and his work on Super Bowl shows and the 2024 Leagues Cup.
Miami will host a total of seven matches in the World Cup, including a quarterfinal on July 11 and the third-place match on July 18. The FIFA World Cup 2026 — the first with 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three countries — officially kicks off on June 11 at the Estadio de la Ciudad de México.
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