Safi — The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony was not limited to musical performances and sporting celebrations, but also stood out as a major fashion moment that captured attention alongside the event’s stars.
The visual dimension played a strong role, with a diverse range of looks that reflected a contemporary spirit blending boldness and innovation.
The attending celebrities shone in striking designs and vibrant colors, alongside outfits that carried cultural symbols and humanitarian messages.
This diversity added an extra visual layer to the event, turning the stage into a space for artistic and creative expression that went beyond sport and entertainment.
Shakira
Shakira headlined the ceremony in a custom Off-White design built for movement. The look paired a bright yellow mesh top, cut with side openings and a high neckline, with a skirt-and-shorts hybrid and long gloves.
Long gloves and multicolored sneakers reinforced the modern athletic character of the look, making the design appear as a seamless mix of stage performance wear and streetwear fashion in a bold, harmonious way.
Salma Hayek
In contrast, Salma Hayek opted for a completely different style.
She appeared in a red Gucci suit during the welcome ceremony for fans and national teams, reaffirming that classic tailoring can still command a strong presence at major global events.
EJAE
Singer EJAE performed “DNA,” the tournament’s official anthem, in a blue gown by the Korean label Leje that carried the night’s strongest cultural symbolism.
The dress drew on the lotus flower, a symbol of peace, happiness and hope in Korean culture, and used more than 100 yards of fabric in a flowing silhouette inspired by the traditional hanbok.
Korean artisans finished the gown by hand with carved mother-of-pearl and white crystals, according to fashion coverage of the event.
Tyla
South African singer Tyla tied her look to her country’s football history.
Her form-fitting dress, a custom piece by Naomi Tarazi, used color-blocking and geometric, sport-inspired lines as a nod to the vuvuzela that defined South Africa’s 2010 World Cup.
She paired it with transparent Jeffrey Campbell sandals on a geometric heel with metallic detailing.
A ceremony built around culture
The looks were part of a show FIFA built around Mexican culture, with indigenous and folkloric performers sharing the bill with international stars including Burna Boy, J Balvin and Andrea Bocelli. Mexico won the match that followed.
