Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy and Colombian pop sensation Shakira will perform the official FIFA World Cup song during the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City.
Shakira and Burna will debut the official anthem, Dai Dai, on stage at Estadio Azteca on June 11, just before Mexico and South Africa to kick off the tournament’s opening match.
“Dai Dai is a celebration of football’s power to unite people across cultures and continents,” FIFA stated during the announcement, as BBC Sport reported on Friday.
The title of the song, an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” is expected to be one of the centrepieces of the opening ceremony.
The event, which begins the month-long competition, will also feature performances by South African singer-songwriter Tyla and Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin.
In addition, FIFA has scheduled three opening ceremonies across the tournament’s host countries, including the event in Mexico. Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will lead the celebrations in Toronto on June 12, just before Canada kicks off its opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Meanwhile, American pop sensation Katy Perry and rapper Future will thrill the crowd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the United States takes on Paraguay.
Shakira’s return to the World Cup stage further extends her long-standing relationship with football’s premier tournament, building on the massive success of her previous hits, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) and La La La.
The Colombian icon will also co-headline the World Cup final’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show on July 19 alongside Madonna and K-pop trio BTS.
