Shakira called: “Dai Dai!” So, see you in July!
Why do we still get goosebumps when a football slowly rolls across wet grass? Why does a cheering stadium still make our hearts race? We’ve seen it so many times, but it never gets old.
The 2026 World Cup began with a big opening ceremony in Mexico City’s famous Azteca Stadium. The stadium sparkled with lights and excitement as it hosted its third World Cup opening, something no other stadium has done. The US and Canada will have their own opening celebrations too, but Mexico set the mood first.
During the ceremony, singer Shakira returned to the World Cup stage, reminding fans of her famous “Waka Waka” song from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Now she performed “Dai Dai,” showing that some football memories never fade. One fan joked, “I was 7 when Waka Waka came out. Now I’m 23, and Shakira still seems 22!”
But football is about more than goals and trophies. It brings together people from different countries, languages, and cultures. Shakira herself, with family roots in different parts of the world and a life shaped by moving between countries, represents that global spirit.
Outside the stadium, however, some people were protesting. Unpaid teachers and families searching for missing loved ones gathered to make their voices heard. Their presence was a reminder that while football can unite and inspire people, real-life problems don’t disappear.
That’s what makes the World Cup special. It’s not just a sport. It’s a celebration, a story of people and nations, and sometimes a reflection of the challenges the world still faces.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
