South African superstar Tyla sang Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Mexico City on Thursday 11 June 2026. The Tyla World Cup national anthem performance lit up the Estadio Azteca before Bafana Bafana’s historic opener against co-hosts Mexico. Furthermore, she performed her World Cup collaboration with Future titled Game Time. As a result, South Africa owned one of the biggest moments of the entire ceremony.
Tyla World Cup National Anthem: The Moment
Tyla stepped onto the Estadio Azteca pitch 90 minutes before kick-off. She sang Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika before billions of viewers worldwide. Furthermore, Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez sang the Mexican anthem on the same stage. The two anthems created one of the most emotional pre-match moments in recent World Cup history.
Tyla shared her feelings ahead of the performance. “It is a dream come true to represent South Africa on such a massive stage. I feel incredibly proud and honoured to sing our anthem for the world to hear,” she said. South Africa returned to the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010. Therefore, having the country’s biggest global star sing the anthem added deep meaning to an already historic day.
A Star-Studded Opening Ceremony
The Estadio Azteca opening ceremony featured one of the strongest lineups in World Cup history. Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the event. They performed their official FIFA World Cup 2026 song Dai Dai live for the first time. Furthermore, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, Ryan Castro and Salma Hayek all took part.
Andrea Bocelli and EJAE from K-Pop Demon Hunters performed the official tournament anthem DNA. Furthermore, all 48 competing nations received recognition during the celebrations. As a result, the ceremony reflected the scale of the biggest World Cup in history, co-hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Tyla World Cup National Anthem Match That Followed
Bafana Bafana faced Mexico in Group A at the Estadio Azteca at 21:00 SAST after the ceremony. The match carries deep historical meaning. In 2010, South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in the World Cup opener on South African soil. The two nations met again at the same Azteca where the 1986 World Cup final was played.
South African fans watched on SABC 1, SABC 3 and SABC Sport. DStv subscribers followed on SuperSport channels 201, 202, 203 and 235. Commentary was available in isiZulu and Sesotho. Furthermore, SABC Plus and DStv Stream carried the live broadcast online.
Tyla’s Extraordinary Week
The anthem performance capped a remarkable week for Tyla. Disney and Pixar confirmed earlier this week that she would voice Inflatable Flamingo in the Sub-Saharan African version of Toy Story 5. She becomes the first African artist to voice a Toy Story character. The film opens in South African cinemas on 19 June 2026. Furthermore, she and Future released their World Cup collaboration Game Time as part of the official soundtrack.
Tyla is 24 years old. She grew up in Edenvale, Gauteng. This week she sang the national anthem at a FIFA World Cup, voiced a Disney Pixar character and performed before a global audience of billions. Furthermore, she holds a Grammy, two American Music Awards and a growing list of global milestones. As a result, her rise from a young Gauteng artist to one of Africa’s biggest stars is now impossible to dispute.
What This Moment Means for South Africa
Tyla’s performance at the Azteca placed a South African voice at the centre of the world’s most watched sporting event. It showed the cultural power South Africa holds through its music and its people. Furthermore, it arrived at a time when the country faces real internal pressure and international scrutiny. As a result, the image of Tyla singing Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika at the Estadio Azteca is one South Africa will carry with pride for a long time.
South Africa returned to the World Cup after 16 years. Its biggest global star sang the anthem at the opening match. Tyla delivered that moment with grace, pride and the voice of a generation.
For more on the FIFA World Cup 2026 visit fifa.com.
Editors Note All information in this article is based on confirmed FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony details and media reports published on 11 June 2026. Match result information will be updated once the Mexico vs South Africa match concludes.