FILE. The Fifa World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City will feature performances by Shakira (pictured), Burna Boy, and Tyla, starting at 7.30pm, with gates opening four hours before the match between Bafana Bafana and their opponents Mexico. Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Image: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
By now, most people will know that Bafana Bafana will kick off their Fifa World Cup campaign at 9pm SA time on Thursday evening, but the opening ceremony will take place long before the first ball is kicked on the pristine turf of Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The opening ceremony is expected to last close to 90 minutes and will begin at 7.30pm SA time.
The headline acts will be Shakira and Burna Boy, who collaborated on the tournament’s official song, Dai Dai.
Gates at Estadio Azteca will open four hours before kick-off to ensure fans have plenty of time to get to their seats ahead of the festivities.
Hollywood star and FIFA World Cup 2026 ambassador Salma Hayek will also welcome fans in Mexico.
Ryan Castro and J Balvin will perform during the opening ceremony, while the full entertainment line-up also includes Belinda, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Maná.
Later, Mzansi’s own Grammy-winning singer Tyla will perform the South African national anthem.
Bafana will still have their work cut out in Group A. Drawn alongside Mexico, Korea Republic and Czechia, it is difficult to see how South Africa will overcome all three sides.
Mexico are 15th in the FIFA world rankings, Korea Republic are 25th and Czechia are 41st. Bafana, by comparison, are ranked 60th.
Fortunately for South Africa, football matches are not won on paper, and the rankings will count for very little once the action gets underway.