Did Shakira use a body double at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony?
Published on 12/06/2026 - 9:44 GMT+2 On Thursday 11 June, the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with a lavish opening ceremony. Stars such as J Balvin, Maná, Lila...
Published on 12/06/2026 - 9:44 GMT+2
On Thursday 11 June, the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with a lavish opening ceremony. Stars such as J Balvin, Maná, Lila Downs and, of course, Shakira took to the stage. By now, she has notched up more World Cups than her ex, Gerard Piqué.
But it wasn’t the fireworks or the music that attracted the most attention online.
Just a few hours after the performance, theories began circulating on social media claiming that the person who sang the tournament’s official anthem, ‘Dai Dai’, was not actually the Colombian star. One user even wrote: “That’s not Shakira. Look how she gets the step wrong when she sings ‘Dai Dai’. That’s a double. Shakira lied to everyone.”
The proof? According to those pushing the theory, the singer looked different.
Shakira bounded onto the pitch in a striking yellow outfit, white shorts, platform trainers and huge dark sunglasses. Many users also pointed out that her hair seemed to be a slightly different shade than usual.
With part of her face hidden behind the glasses and a look that was slightly different from the one her fans are used to, speculation spread rapidly across X, TikTok and other platforms. Within hours, the internet was debating whether it was really seeing Shakira… or a stand-in.
The evidence
For now, the singer’s team has not responded to the rumours. However, there is one detail that strongly suggests the person on the pitch was, in fact, the real Shakira.
The artist has a small scar on her forehead that is clearly visible in numerous photographs taken over the years. It can be seen, for example, in images distributed by Associated Press from an event held in New York in May 2026.
And yes: the same mark is also visible in images from the World Cup opening ceremony.
Of course, it is always possible that the supposed double spent months studying Shakira’s every move, learning her routines, copying her hairstyle and recreating even the tiniest facial scar in order to fool millions of viewers and dozens of high-definition cameras.
Or, alternatively, that it really was Shakira.
We’re inclined to go with the second option. After all, those hips don’t lie.
