Shakira and Burna Boy to Headline World Cup Opening in Mexico as Katy Perry Takes the US Stage

Shakira and Burna Boy Set for World Cup Opening in Mexico; Katy Perry to Headline US Event

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be as much a music event as a sporting one, with organizers announcing a marquee entertainment lineup that spans continents and genres. Colombian pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy are set to headline opening festivities in Mexico, while American pop star Katy Perry will take center stage at a World Cup event in the United States.

The 2026 tournament marks the first FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and the entertainment programming appears designed to reflect that geographic and cultural breadth. [VERIFY: confirm official announcement source and whether these are FIFA-sanctioned opening ceremony performances or separately organized events]

For Shakira, the World Cup stage is familiar territory. The singer became globally synonymous with the tournament after performing 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),' the official song of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa — a performance that remains one of the most-watched in the event's history. Her return to a World Cup opening would carry considerable symbolic resonance, particularly in Mexico, where her Latin pop catalog enjoys an enduring following. [VERIFY: exact city/venue in Mexico for this event]

Burna Boy's inclusion adds an Afrobeats dimension to the lineup and speaks to the genre's rapid global ascent over the past decade. The Grammy-winning artist has built one of the largest international profiles of any African musician in recent memory and has previously performed at major international venues and festivals. His presence also acknowledges Africa's passionate football culture at a moment when the continent's role in global soccer continues to grow. [VERIFY: specific Grammy win details and year]

In the United States, Katy Perry is slated to headline what is expected to be a high-visibility performance tied to the tournament's American leg. Perry, whose run of chart-topping singles made her one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s, has experience performing at large-scale live events. [VERIFY: US city/venue and event format for her performance]

FIFA has increasingly invested in high-profile musical acts as part of its strategy to broaden the World Cup's appeal beyond traditional soccer audiences. The 2022 tournament in Qatar featured a widely discussed opening ceremony, and the expanded 2026 edition — with [VERIFY: total number of teams and matches] — is expected to surpass it in scale.

[VERIFY: whether Canada has a separately announced entertainment event, and confirm all performance dates]