Grand Spectacle Kicks Off Football Festival: Historic Three-Nation Championship Ignited by Star Shakira

The Colombian singer performed her song 'Dai Dai,' a collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. FIFA brought Shakira back after the success of her previous World Cup anthems, most notably 'Waka Waka' from the 2010 tournament.

The ceremony also featured other Latin American singers, and dancers in indigenous attire opened the proceedings. The dancers twirled around a giant replica of the World Cup trophy, while fireworks lit up the historic 80,000-seat stadium. Shortly before kickoff, Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek addressed the fans, urging them to enjoy the tournament.

The opening kickoff was also preceded by a parade featuring the flags of all participating nations, culminating in a joint performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Korean-American singer Ejae.

The Azteca Stadium underwent renovations before the tournament, becoming the first venue in the world to host three men's World Cups. It previously hosted matches in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, where legends Pelé and Diego Maradona shone in the finals.

The championship across the USA, Canada, and Mexico is the first in history to feature 48 teams and also the first to be hosted by three countries. Separate ceremonies are also scheduled for Friday before the first matches in Canada and the USA. Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are set to perform in Toronto, while American singer Katy Perry will take the stage in Inglewood, Los Angeles County.

The 48-team tournament is co-hosted by the USA and Canada. A total of 104 matches are scheduled, with the final set for July 19th in New Jersey. It is expected to generate a record total revenue of 13 billion dollars.

The second match of the opening day will see South Korea face the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Friday at 4:00 AM CET. Spain and France are considered tournament favorites, while defending champions Argentina will rely on their 38-year-old star leader Lionel Messi.