MEXICO CITY — Africa announced its presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before a single ball was kicked. Burna Boy and Rema performed at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, cementing Afrobeats as a global cultural force.
Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament, alongside Colombian superstar Shakira. The crowd of over 87,000 at the Estadio Azteca roared as the two artists took the stage. Billboard readers later voted “Dai Dai” the best World Cup song of all time in an online poll.
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Rema Joins Global Superstars
Rema performed his World Cup track “Goals” as part of the opening ceremony segment in the United States. He shared the stage with Thai rapper Lisa and Brazilian artist Anitta. The collaboration brought together Afrobeats, K-pop, and Latin pop in one landmark moment.
His inclusion follows the release of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album on June 5, which also featured Davido and Ayra Starr alongside global artists including The Rolling Stones, Future, Tyla, and Daddy Yankee.
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Davido Makes a Statement
Davido used his platform differently. At a pre-tournament concert in Los Angeles, he wore a jacket bearing the names of the abducted Oriire school pupils and teachers from Oyo State. The gesture went viral globally and pushed Nigeria’s security crisis into international headlines.
A Historic Nigerian Showing
No country had as many artists on the official World Cup album as Nigeria. Music executives say the development reflects a fundamental shift in how the global entertainment industry views Afrobeats.
“This is not a trend,” said one Nigerian music executive. “This is the new normal.”
