The 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway in eye-catching fashion on Thursday evening, with an elaborate opening ceremony taking place at the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Mexico City was the site for the first game of the tournament, with the hosts taking on South Africa. The game itself kicked off at 8pm Irish time, although there was quite the intro ahead of the football.
Not one, but two opening ceremonies would take place at the ground.
It was an impressive spectacle, although viewers couldn’t help but notice one major flaw with the whole thing.
Viewers baffled by one aspect of World Cup opening ceremony
The opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a star-studded affair.
Along with Mexican acts such as Alejandro Fernandez and Belinda, some massive global stars were present. Shakira performed official World Cup theme Dai Dai alongside Burna Boy, while Andrea Bocelli would perform the official tournament anthem (yes, there are two official songs) with EJEA and David Guetta.
In saying that, there was something quite noticeable about the performances. All of the acts seemed to be lip syncing, quite badly in many cases.
Shakira cantando en la inauguración del Mundial 2026#MundialRTVE #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/N5TNcIY27Y
— sugar 🍃 (@sugarcriminal) June 11, 2026
Andrea Bocelli is no stranger to major tournaments, having performed Nessum Dorma at Euro 2020.
It’s fair to say his latest appearance was not quite as iconic.
Not only was the song a rather bizarre one for a renowned opera singer, but we also saw a man with one of the world’s most well respected voices force to perform via lip syncing on the day.
Full performance of K-Pop Demon Hunters EJAE / Rumi and Andrea Bocelli at the World Cup ~#FIFA #WorldCup #EJAE #KPopDemonHunters #Rumi #Soccer #AndreaBocelli pic.twitter.com/fOwndPXazp
— Funko POP News ! (@FunkoPOPsNews) June 11, 2026
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He deserves better.
While the opening ceremony was a striking one from a visual sense, quite a few viewers were annoyed with this particular aspect of it.
What’s the point if they’re all just gonna be lip syncing 🤣
— Tom Garratt (@Tgarratt10) June 11, 2026
The lip syncing that’s happening at this opening ceremony pic.twitter.com/nPm0AvKAvM
— spookie (@Spookiloo) June 11, 2026
What the hell am I watching?
Is it just me or is the world cup opening ceremony like a primary school play with lip syncing thrown in? Bloody hell!
— SunOnLeith (@SunOnLeith) June 11, 2026
Burna boy keeps forgetting that he’s lip syncing #WorldCup #FIFAWorldCup #FIFA
— Anza. (@AnzaTino) June 11, 2026
This World Cup opening ceremony song in Mexico City couldn’t be more lip synced
— Robby Goldman (@robbygolds) June 11, 2026
lip-syncing the fifa world cup opening is wild, so obvious too.
— MESSI FC 🇦🇷 (@WeAreMessiFC) June 11, 2026
Lip syncing at the #WorldCup opening ceremony. FFS, a sign of things to come.#mundialdefútbol
— Fergal Tierney (@Fergaltierney) June 11, 2026
If you’re going to have Bocelli at a World Cup, he should have to be singing Nessun Dorma.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 11, 2026
A bit of a letdown, especially when you consider the big names on display.
Here’s hoping that the action on the pitch will be a bit more exciting over the coming weeks, even if Roy Keane feels that what happens in the games should not overshadow the issues surrounding this World Cup.