Viral theory claims Shakira body double was used in World Cup opening ceremony

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After Shakira’s performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, a lot of viewers believe they didn’t actually see the real singer, and that a look-alike was used instead.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun! Mexico, one of the host countries, won the first game against South Africa on June 11th. Before the match, a lively opening ceremony at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca showcased talented Latin American performers.

Shakira and Burna Boy were the main performers at the show, where they played their hit song “Dai Dai,” which was the official anthem for the North American leg of the World Cup.

After the music faded and the fireworks display finished, many online fans insisted the performer wasn’t really Shakira.

Viral World Cup theory claims it wasn’t Shakira in opening ceremony

After the performance, I started seeing this crazy rumor online – people were saying Shakira actually used a body double during the show! It really took off and everyone was talking about it.

Fans noticed the person appearing in place of the singer didn’t resemble her, and they pointed out that sunglasses were used to hide her face.

One fan commented that Shakira at the World Cup kickoff looked drastically different than usual, saying, “She doesn’t even look like herself!” Another person wondered if she’d used a body double, noting she looked completely different from just weeks before at an event in Rio de Janeiro.

That’s not Shakira.
Look how she messes up the dance steps when she sings ‘Dai Dai…’ – it’s a stand-in. Shakira has been misleading everyone.

— TermoEcu 🇪🇨🇪🇦🎙⚽️ (@TermoEcu2021) June 11, 2026

However, some people questioned whether the performer was actually Shakira, noting her performance seemed to lack her typical energy and accuracy.

Someone else commented that it wasn’t Shaki performing, explaining that a last-minute emergency arose. They suspected a stand-in was used because the performer lacked Shaki’s usual energy and appearance, and was even wearing glasses – something Shaki wouldn’t normally do.

Despite the theory gaining some traction, others remained skeptical. They questioned how quickly a convincing look-alike could be found, and noted she still had a noticeable scar on her forehead that would be hard to disguise.

One Twitter user expressed disbelief, asking, “Someone learned all the dance moves, matched the performer’s timing, and even replicated a forehead mark in just 30 minutes?”

Even if her Super Bowl performance was her last for a while, Shakira isn’t disappearing from the stage. She’s also set to perform at the World Cup final’s halftime show, with BTS.

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2026-06-12 13:19