“Welcome to Mexico!” » Shakira, J Balvin and Mariachi at the opening ceremony of the World Championship

• Sergiu Alexandru and Ionuț Iordache (photo) are at the World Championship and will sign special correspondence for Gazeta Sporturilor during the final tournament in Mexico, Canada and the USA

For about 20 minutes, the field at the Mexico City Stadium turned into the biggest stage, the show put on by the organizers being a true celebration of Mexico's history.

PHOTO. Big days show before Mexico – South Africa

A huge replica of the World Cup was brought to the center of the pitch, and around it the spectacle took place that delighted the whole stadium. First, the organizers directed a performance related to the history of Mexico and the Aztec civilization, so that then the artists began to sing one by one.

Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs and the Los Angeles Azules were first to delight the fans, only for Shakira and Burna Boy to close the show with the competition anthem (Dai Dai). At the end, a fireworks show in the colors of the Mexican flag.

Before the match FIFA invited Alejandro Fernandez to sing Mexico's anthem and Tyla to sing South Africa's anthem. And Salma Hayek was present as a FIFA ambassador: “Long live Mexico!”

Salma Hayek / PHOTO: Ionuț Iordache (GSP.ro)

The festivities ended an hour before the end, in time for the players of the two teams to go out on the pitch and start warming up. During which time music was still heard from the amplifier station and the fans sang along. And 20 minutes before they started doing the famous “Mexican waves”, to the rhythms of traditional Mexican songs.

Before the anthems, the flags of all 48 countries participating in the final tournament were brought onto the field for another small ceremony to honor the qualified national teams, opened by Salma Hayek. And it all ended with Andrea Bocelli and EJAE singing “DNA”.