Tyla shares her emotional experience of performing South Africa’s national anthem at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, alongside the Mzansi Youth Choir, marking a proud moment for the nation
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Just minutes before Bafana Bafana kicked off their 2026 Fifa World Cup match against Mexico, South Africa had already enjoyed a proud moment on one of the biggest stages in global sport.
At the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla joined forces with the Mzansi Youth Choir for a moving rendition of South Africa’s national anthem during the tournament’s opening ceremony.
The performance placed the singer at the heart of a historic moment as millions of football fans around the world tuned in to watch the opening celebrations ahead of the first match of the tournament.
For the Johannesburg-born star, the moment clearly meant just as much as it did to viewers back home. Taking to Instagram after her performance, the singer reflected on the experience and shared her excitement with fans.
“Oh, what I did today? I just sang my country’s national anthem with the @mzansiyouthchoir at the @fifaworldcup today whuttt, lolll I feel so blessed having shared this moment with such special vocalists …
"Thank you for being a part of this core memory. And @bafanabafanaofficial Y’all looked flyyy asf… 2 more games!! Let’s go!!!!” she wrote.
The moment was equally special for the Mzansi Youth Choir, who stood alongside Tyla as they performed in front of a packed stadium and a worldwide television audience.
As per reports, members of the choir later shared that performing at a Fifa World Cup opening ceremony was something they had never imagined would become a reality.
They described the experience as both emotional and surreal, only realising how big a deal this was when they stepped onto the field.
The choir also revealed that they only discovered they would be performing with Tyla shortly before travelling to Mexico, making the surprise even more memorable.
For many South Africans watching from home, the performance was one of the standout moments of the opening ceremony. It brought together one of the country’s biggest music stars and one of its most celebrated youth choirs in a powerful display of national pride before Bafana Bafana took to the pitch.
After the anthem performance, Tyla celebrated with the choir backstage as they all took pride in the moment.
The star was later spotted in the stands alongside Mexican singer and actress Becky G, whom she previously collaborated with on her self-titled debut album.
Unfortunately, the feel-good moment before kick-off wasn’t matched by the result on the pitch. Bafana Bafana began their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, leaving fans disappointed.