Shakira’s World Cup Opening Act Sparks a Doppelganger Conspiracy Online

Shakira performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City, appearing alongside Burna Boy to debut their new song, “Dai Dai.” At 49, she drew praise for the dance, charisma and high energy that once made her a World Cup music star with hits like “Waka Waka” and “La La La.”

Within minutes, however, social media filled with claims that the woman on stage was not Shakira at all, but a lookalike. Users pointed to her black sunglasses, which she did not remove during the performance, and said her face, hair and movements looked different. Some went further, suggesting a last-minute emergency, major plastic surgery, or even a FIFA cost-cutting stunt.

Fans pushed back quickly, saying the theory was baseless. They cited a small forehead scar from childhood chickenpox that was visible both during the show and in recent photos from May 2026. They also shared rehearsal footage and argued that the voice and choreography were unmistakably hers.

The article also included the tournament standings after the opening stage. In Group A, Mexico and South Korea each had one win and three points, while Czechia and South Africa had none. All other groups listed, from B through L, had not yet started and showed zero points for every team.