She rehearses whenever and wherever she can
Once again, at the crossroads of sport and song, Shakira returns to the World Cup stage — this time at Mexico City's storied Azteca Stadium, where she rehearses for the opening ceremony of a tournament that, for the first time in its history, will be shared among three nations. The Colombian artist, who gave the world 'Waka Waka' in 2010 and 'La La La' in 2014, now prepares to help inaugurate the 2026 edition with a new offering called 'Dai Dai.' In the quiet discipline of rehearsal, a global moment is being assembled, piece by piece.
- Shakira arrived at the Azteca Stadium with her dancers and choreographer Darina Littleton, moving through its corridors and onto the field to shape a performance that will be watched by hundreds of millions.
- She shared behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram — warming up in transit, walking the stadium's pathways — signaling that preparation is well underway even as the full setlist remains secret.
- The confirmed inclusion of 'Dai Dai,' a track written specifically for this tournament, anchors her setlist and connects her once more to the tradition of World Cup anthems she helped define.
- The 2026 World Cup's unprecedented three-nation format — USA, Mexico, and Canada — raises the stakes of the opening ceremony, making Shakira's performance a symbolic threshold for something historically new.
- With the tournament weeks away, the rehearsals at one of soccer's most iconic venues signal that the spectacle is no longer a promise — it is becoming real.
On a Monday in early June, Shakira walked into the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City with her dancers and choreographer Darina Littleton, rehearsing for the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup. She documented fragments of the day on Instagram — warming up during the drive over, moving through the stadium's corridors — captioning the clips with a simple note: she rehearses whenever and wherever she can. The full setlist remains under wraps, but one song is already confirmed: 'Dai Dai,' written specifically for this tournament.
This is not new territory for Shakira. In 2010, 'Waka Waka' became the anthem of South Africa's World Cup, a song that still defines that summer. In 2014, she returned for Brazil with 'La La La.' Now she is being called upon again, this time to help open a tournament unlike any before it.
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across three countries — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — a first in the competition's history. Mexico's role as a co-host gives the Azteca rehearsal particular weight: this iconic stadium will be at the center of the tournament's opening moments, and Shakira's performance will set the tone for everything that follows. The production is serious, the preparation is real, and in a matter of weeks, the world will see what is being quietly assembled today.
Shakira walked into the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on a Monday in early June, ready to rehearse. The Colombian singer is preparing for one of the biggest stages in sports: the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, which will unfold across three countries for the first time in the tournament's history. She brought her dancers and choreographer Darina Littleton with her, moving through the stadium's corridors and onto the field to work through the movements and timing of what will be a globally televised performance.
On Instagram, Shakira documented fragments of the day. She posted clips of herself warming up during the drive to the stadium, captioning them with a simple declaration: she rehearses whenever and wherever she can. The videos showed her walking the stadium's pathways alongside her creative team, getting a feel for the space where she'll perform. She didn't reveal the full setlist—that remains under wraps—but one song is already confirmed. Dai Dai, a track released specifically for this World Cup, will be part of her show.
This isn't Shakira's first time at the intersection of soccer and music. She has become something of a fixture in World Cup history. In 2010, when South Africa hosted the tournament, her song Waka Waka became the official anthem, a track that defined that summer and remains synonymous with that edition of the competition. Four years later, in Brazil, she contributed again with La La La, another song that carried the weight of the moment. Now, in 2026, she's being asked to help launch a tournament that will be unlike any before it.
The 2026 World Cup will run from June through July and will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—a three-nation arrangement that has never happened in the competition's history. Mexico's role as one of the hosts makes the Azteca Stadium rehearsal particularly significant. The stadium, one of the most iconic venues in world soccer, will be central to the tournament's opening moments. Shakira's performance there will set the tone for what comes next.
For now, the full scope of what she'll perform remains a mystery. The behind-the-scenes posts give only glimpses: dancers moving in formation, the vast empty stadium waiting to be filled, a performer at work. But those fragments are enough to signal that the production is real, the preparation is serious, and the moment is approaching. In a few months, when the tournament begins, millions will watch what she's rehearsing now.
Notable Quotes
Rehearsing every moment I can and everywhere I can— Shakira, on Instagram
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that Shakira is the one performing at the opening ceremony? Is it just because she's famous?
It's more than that. She's become the voice of the World Cup itself. Waka Waka in 2010, La La La in 2014—those songs became part of how people remember those tournaments. She understands how to make a moment feel both personal and massive.
So this is her third World Cup song?
Her third official contribution, yes. But it's different this time because the tournament itself is different. Three countries hosting together has never happened before. The opening ceremony has to speak to that scale and novelty.
What does the fact that she's rehearsing at the Azteca specifically tell us?
It tells us Mexico is taking its role seriously. The Azteca is sacred ground in soccer. Rehearsing there isn't just logistics—it's a statement that this opening matters, that it deserves the best venue and the best preparation.
She posted those Instagram stories. Why do that?
It builds anticipation without giving anything away. People see her working, see the dancers, see the stadium. It makes the performance feel real and imminent. But she keeps the actual setlist secret, which keeps people guessing.
What's Dai Dai? Is it a big song?
It was released specifically for this World Cup, so it's new. By confirming it will be in her set, she's signaling that this tournament will have its own identity, its own music. It's not just a repeat of past glories.
When does all this happen?
The tournament starts in June, so the opening ceremony is just weeks away. These rehearsals are the final countdown.