Shakira will headline the opening ceremony of the this Thursday, June 11, at the Estadio Ciudad de México, where she will perform the official song of the tournament, Dai Dai, alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy.
The Colombian has already shared videos of the rehearsals on her social media, showcasing the intensity of the preparations for what will be one of the biggest shows of her global career.
Among the most talked-about moments from the rehearsals was the encounter between Shakira and Belinda over the weekend, when both artists met at the stadium and were captured in a warm embrace that went viral on social media.
Belinda will perform "Por Ella" alongside Los Ángeles Azules, while Alejandro Fernández will have the honor of singing the Mexican National Anthem.
The full lineup for the ceremony in Mexico also includes Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Maná, and Tyla, an artist from South Africa, the opposing team in the opening match.
FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino described the event as "a celebration full of sound, color, and meaning," with Mexican culture taking center stage through music, art, and dance.
The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. (Central Mexico time) and will last for about 90 minutes, before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. For viewers in the United States, the show will kick off at 1:30 p.m. in Miami and New York, while the match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
The Ciudad de México Stadium, historically known as Estadio Azteca and with a capacity of 83,000 spectators, thus becomes the only venue in the world to host a World Cup opening ceremony for the third time, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.
This World Cup is the first to be held in three host countries simultaneously, which led FIFA to design a triple opening ceremony conducted over two consecutive days in three different venues.
On Friday, June 12, the festival moves to Toronto, where Michael Bublé will headline the Canadian lineup alongside Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, and other artists, prior to the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That same Friday, but at 5:30 PM (Central Mexico time), Los Angeles will host the third ceremony at SoFi Stadium, featuring Katy Perry as the headliner, accompanied by Future, LISA from BLACKPINK, Anitta, Rema, and Tyla.
The three productions are being orchestrated by the Italian producer Marco Balich, known for his work on the opening ceremony of this year's Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Shakira, regarded as the artist most associated with the recent history of the World Cups after her performances in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014, is also confirmed for the closing ceremony on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, alongside BTS and Madonna, in what will be the first halftime show at a World Cup final.
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