SHAKIRA turned up the heat as she kicked off the biggest ever World Cup and the party only got hotter as hosts Mexico made a flying start in a fiery curtain-raiser clash.
Home fans were delighted as they stormed to a 2-0 victory against South Africa in a hot-tempered contest that saw three players sent off at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City last night.
But while things were hotting up inside the stadium, tempers flared outside with violent clashes between protesters and the police.
Hours later, South Korea pulled off a second-half comeback to beat Czechia 2-1 in front of hundreds of empty seats at Guadalajara Stadium.
The opening ceremony featured Shakira and Nigerian rapper Burna Boy who performed the new tournament anthem “Dai Dai” – or “Let’s Go”, ahead of five weeks of football drama.
The pair gyrated with a troupe of dancers around a giant golden World Cup at the centre of the arena as fireworks filled the air.
Flame-haired Shakira – sporting a mini-skirt outfit in the yellow and white colours of her national team – was performing her second football anthem after Waka Waka wowed in 2010.
The superstar duo delivered a dazzling performance as the Colombian lit up the stadium with her trademark high-energy and dance moves, sending supporters wild.
But just moments before kick-off, demonstrations outside the Azteca Stadium boiled over as police charged rioting protestors.
The security perimeter outside the stadium was stormed by mothers demanding action from authorities to find their disappeared loved ones who are feared to have been recruited by force or killed by drug cartels.
Flames erupted close to police horses as the scene descended into chaos with one policewoman left with a bleeding gash to her head.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric as Mexico got off to a flying start to hand England an early potential last 16 warning.
Raul Jimenez, dumped by Fulham only on Tuesday, proved he has plenty left in the tank for his return to former club Wolves as he finished off nine-man South Africa.
It ensured the Azteca was Party Central for 90 minutes, with lift-off having come with Julian Quinones’ early strike for the tournament co-hosts.
South Africa were utterly outclassed even before midfielder Yaya Sithole was sent off three minutes after the break.
Their nightmare was completed when substitute Thembe Zwane followed him down the tunnel for cuffing home midfielder Roberto Alvarado’s round the head with six to go.
Mexico also had a player sent off with Brazilian whistler Wilton Sampaio dismissing left-back Cesar Montes for a stoppage-time foul on Khuliso Mudau.
However, the atmosphere for the tournament’s second game – between South Korea and Czechia – left more to be desired.
Both sets of players were booed as they left the field after a lacklustre first half.
But the game burst into action in the 59th minute when Czechia captain Ladislav Krejcí headed in from a long throw.
South Korea’s Hwang In-beom levelled the tie just eight minutes later after taking two Czeh players out of the game with a fake shot.
He then set up Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winner to give the team the strongest possible start.
Kicking off the World Cup earlier in the evening, the Mexican announcer said: “Mexico receives you with smiles from our heart, we are a nation of diversity, heritage and pride.
“Football carries the same heartbeat. Uniting generations. The trophy is not defined by one player or nation but by all!”
The pre-match show featured an exotic blend of global stars and Latin American superstars as millions tuned in around the globe.
Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs welcomed the world in both Spanish and English with a performance celebrating Aztec culture.
“People of the world, welcome to Mexico,” she said, as the giant world cup trophy stood tall at centre pitch.
Fellow Mexican popstar Belinda then took centre stage, flanked by dancers in multi-coloured outfits in a mesmerising display.
The Princess of Latin Pop was dressed in a shimmering pink top and casual purple and blue trousers as she performed her single from the official World Cup album: “Por Ella (For her).”
She then handed over to legendary eighties Mexican rock band Maná who roused the Mexico City Stadium crowd with their 1992 hit “Oye Mi Amor (Hey, My Love)”.
The energy remained high for Colombian rappers J Balvin and Ryan Castro who performed a showstopper medley of their best-known hits
J Balvin kicked off his set with his 2018 hit “Que Calor (What Heat)” before the pair rapped a duet of their collab track “Una A La Vez”.
Balvin then capped off his performance with a rendition of his Cardi B and Bad Bunny song “I Like It.”
Ahead of the match, Hollywood star Salma Hayek, in her official role as a Fifa World Cup 2026 Ambassador, welcomed teams from across the globe and officially opened the tournament.
Her appearance was followed by a parade of the flags of all 48 competing nations and a performance of the official World Cup anthem by opera star Andrea Bocelli before kick-off.
Fans roared inside the stadium as the teams lined up on the pitch with singer Tyla delivering South Africa’s national anthem while Alejandro Fernández did the same for Mexico.
The tournament marks the first time the World Cup has been hosted across three nations.
Fifa’s biggest ever World Cup has been expanded to feature 48 nations including hosts the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The US is set to host the lion’s share of matches – including the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
The extra games across 16 cities will shatter previous attendance records with estimates that at least five millions fans will flood in.
But Fifa estimates that a staggering six billion people—roughly three-quarters of the global population—will watch games on TV.
Thursday’s glittering pageant in Mexico City will be followed by two more ceremonies today in the US and Canada.
The three opening ceremonies are being produced by Italian creative director Marco Balich, the mastermind behind shows at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
In Toronto, singers Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette are set to headline the Canadian ceremony, performing alongside acts that showcase the country’s multicultural population.
The show begins at 6:30pm UK time later today.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles ceremony at SoFi Stadium will be hosted by Jason Sudeikis, best known for his role as soccer coach Ted Lasso while Katy Perry will also star.
*SOURCE BY THE SUN