According to iHeartRadio, Colombian pop sensation Shakira and Afrobeats pioneer Burna Boy set the stage ablaze at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City during the vibrant opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. The duo delivered a high-energy performance of their collaborative track “Dai Dai,” a massive global hit that doubles as the official anthem for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The cross-cultural showcase highlighted a blend of Latin American rhythms and African beats, captivating millions of football fans worldwide before Mexico kicked off the tournament against South Africa.
Confirming the massive global event, Billboard noted that the groundbreaking anthem first arrived to massive fanfare across streaming networks to unite diverse global music communities. Media coverage from Zoom TV also spotlighted the Grammy-winning Nigerian artist’s historic presence on the North American stage, noting that the star, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, “is recognized for his role in bringing Afrobeats to a global audience.” Expressing the sheer scale of the evening, local sports correspondents reported that “the opening ceremony set a festive tone for the tournament,” proving that sports and music remain the ultimate universal languages.
### Echotitbits Take
This milestone is a monumental victory for African music, demonstrating that Afrobeats has firmly established itself at the pinnacle of global pop culture. Aligning a prominent Nigerian artist with one of the world’s most historic sporting events ensures that African sounds will dominate international airwaves throughout the summer. Watch out for massive streaming spikes for “Dai Dai” as World Cup fever grips the globe over the coming weeks.
Source: iHeartRadio — https://jamn957.iheart.com/content/2026-06-11-shakira-j-balvin-more-kick-off-fifa-world-cup-in-mexico-see-the-photos/ June 11, 2026
Photo Credit: iHeartRadio
