Mexico secured a victory over South Africa following the opening ceremony in Mexico City, which featured Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy. Football enthusiasts are gearing up for nearly 40 days of competition spanning three nations.
The World Cup opening ceremony commenced at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, signaling the start of the countdown to the initial group stage match between Mexico and South Africa.
Latin music and dance performances revolved around a large replica of the World Cup trophy positioned at the center of the field, preceding 104 matches over the next 39 days, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
During the ceremony's standout moment, Colombian star Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy delivered a performance of "Dai Dai" β an Italian slang phrase meaning "come on" or "give it your all" β the tournament's official anthem, eliciting loud cheers from the audience.
Who is playing on opening night?
Mexico versus South Africa is the sole fixture scheduled for opening day, a relatively uncommon instance of a World Cup tradition that has persisted for the first-ever tournament featuring 48 teams.
The match concluded with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0.
Police presence was heavy in the Mexican capital, particularly around the outdoor viewing area in the city center, where minor altercations were reported as people attempted to squeeze into the crowded site ahead of the game.
The teams took to the field to applause from the sold-out crowd nearly an hour before the scheduled kickoff.
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Edited by: Sean Sinico
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