World Cup Opening Ceremony Falls Flat: Shakira and Stars Fail to Save a Dull Show

The 2026 World Cup kicked off Thursday in Mexico City with an opening ceremony that critics say was forgettable. Despite a lineup featuring Shakira, J Balvin, Maná, and Belinda, the performance lacked energy, storytelling, and live music. Singer Lila Downs opened the short show at the Estadio Ciudad de México, formerly known as the Azteca. She welcomed the world to Mexico. The ceremony marked the start of 39 days of competition, which will end on July 19. The show was brief. Most artists performed to pre-recorded tracks, known as playback. Some songs directly referenced the World Cup, like Danny Ocean's "Partidazo." But others, such as J Balvin's "Oye Mi Amor," seemed out of place. Critics said the lineup felt random and lacked a clear theme. The stage design was simple. A single gold platform rose from the center of the field, displaying a replica of the World Cup trophy. There were no moving sets, floating platforms, or other surprises. The ceremony also missed a chance for political messages. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum did not attend. She gave her ticket to a young Indigenous woman. Outside the stadium, mothers of missing persons protested. They reminded the world that 134,000 people remain unaccounted for in Mexico. "Mexico is champion in disappearances," they shouted. Actress Salma Hayek presented the World Cup trophy to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Earlier that day, Infantino had asked critics to "relax" after the U.S. blocked a Somali referee from entering the country. The referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, would have been the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match. Somalia called the ban "regrettable." The ceremony ended with live vocals for the first time. Tyla sang the South African national anthem, and Alejandro Fernández sang Mexico's anthem. When the host team scored the first goal of the tournament, the crowd began to sing "México Lindo."