The global stars will appear at Estadio Azteca on June 11 before the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa, where they will perform Dai Dai, the tournament’s official anthem.
According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday, FIFA described the song as a tribute to football’s unique ability to bring people together across different cultures and regions of the world.
“Dai Dai is a celebration of football’s power to unite people across cultures and continents,” FIFA said in a statement announcing the performance.”
The title of the song is derived from an Italian expression meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” and is expected to feature prominently during the opening ceremony.
Also scheduled to perform at the event are Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla as festivities get underway for the month-long competition.
Explaining the choice of performers, FIFA said the collaboration reflects the energy and global appeal of the tournament.
“We wanted a song that captures the energy, passion and global spirit of the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA added. “Shakira and Burna Boy bring together two of the world’s most influential musical voices.”
The ceremony in Mexico is one of three major opening celebrations planned across the tournament’s host countries.
In Canada, singers Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will lead festivities ahead of Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.
Meanwhile, American stars Katy Perry and Future are expected to perform before the United States take on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The 2026 tournament marks another World Cup appearance for Shakira, whose previous football anthems, including Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) and La La La, became global hits.
She is also expected to feature at the World Cup final on July 19, where she will co-headline the competition’s first Super Bowl-style halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS.