It’s almost time. In Mexico City, a few hours before the first ball is kicked at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the focus is already on football, music, colour and expectant anticipation.
The ambiance around the Mexico City Stadium is that of movement which only a World Cup can provide. People have already been coming in from all over the country, dressed in their national colours, taking pictures and chanting slogans before the opening ceremony starts. The security has been reinforced, TV crews are set up and it’s as if a giant football tournament has arrived in the venue.
FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to start on Friday, June 12, and the Opening Ceremony will commence at 11 PM IST. It is before co-hosts Mexico and South Africa’s opening match. The game will get the attention later in the evening, but the event is likely to kick off the month-long celebration of the game. Supporters can be felt to be in a state of nervous excitement even from a distance, watching people’s eyes dart between the set-up of the stage and the huge screens in the stadium.
There will be a lot of attention on Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The duo will be performing the Official Song of the FIFA World Cup 2026 – “Dai Dai”. They are one of the highlights of the night, especially given its popularity as a theme to the tournament. Rehearsals came to an end as final checks were made around the venue and the one question that was often repeatedly asked by fans was when will the music begin?
But the ceremony is not just for entertainment. The organisers also say that the event will benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The project’s goal is to increase access to quality education and football opportunities for children globally. It makes an event with already a lot of global attention be even more meaningful. In-between the lights and football, there’s a message about making opportunities outside the game.
The music programme is not limited to the headliners. The ceremony will have a distinctly regional flavour with several prominent Latin American artists set to take the stage. J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda and Danny Ocean are all part of the programme. The presence of them is a sign of the cultural influence of the host nation and will ensure that they once more bring football and music together with the celebration of heritage and national pride. By then, the stands will be full and the noise level will be increasing, and the atmosphere may be more like a festival than a sport.
What viewers need to know
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony will kick off at 11 PM IST for audiences from India. The game will be held at the Mexico City Stadium ahead of the first game of the tournament.
The event will be broadcast live on UNITE8 Sports and those who want to watch the event online can do so on Zee5. The opening ceremony is the official kick-off of the biggest stage in football and millions of people are expected to tune in throughout the night, spanning various time zones.
Once the games are over, it’s on to the pitch. The first match between Mexico and South Africa will begin, and the first chapter of a tournament that has already captivated the world in its excitement will start. But right now, it’s all about the players, the supporters and the tradition that is the start of a new World Cup adventure.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony will begin at 11 PM IST with Shakira, Burna Boy and other top Latin artists. View live broadcast and streaming information.
