No, That Viral Video Does Not Show Shakira Performing the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Song

A video circulating on social media claims to show Shakira performing the official opening song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The claim is unverifiable. No official source has confirmed it, and there are strong reasons to be skeptical.

FIFA's official website has made no announcement about the 2026 opening ceremony performer or song as of early 2025. That silence matters. FIFA typically makes these announcements through official channels with significant fanfare. If Shakira had been confirmed, you would know about it from FIFA itself, not a viral video.

Reuters Fact Check has documented a pattern of viral videos falsely claiming to show official FIFA World Cup content — performances, announcements, and reveals that were never verified by FIFA. Snopes similarly notes that videos claiming to preview future event performances are frequently fabricated, taken out of context, or built using AI-generated footage. Without a verifiable source, the video proves nothing.

The claim feels believable because Shakira has a genuine World Cup track record. Billboard confirms she performed 'Waka Waka' for the 2010 tournament and 'La La La' in 2014. That history makes the idea plausible — but plausible is not the same as true. Wishful thinking is not evidence.

This kind of misinformation spreads because it sits right at the edge of believable. It involves a real person, a real upcoming event, and a real past relationship between the two. That combination makes people skip the verification step. Before sharing a video like this, ask one question: has FIFA officially announced it? If the answer is no, hold off.