The internet is convinced that Shakira was replaced by a double at the 2026 World Cup. Euronews examined the footage to find out if this is true.
On Thursday, June 11, the 2026 World Cup kicked off with a grand opening ceremony in Mexico City. Stars like J Balvin, Maná, Lila Downs, and of course, Shakira performed on stage, who by this point had already participated in more World Cups than her ex, Gerard Piqué.
But neither the fireworks nor the music became the main topic of discussion online.
A few hours after the performance, theories began circulating on social media that the person who performed the official anthem of the tournament, Dai Dai, was actually not the Colombian singer. One user even wrote: "That’s not Shakira. Look how she stumbles in her step while singing Dai Dai. It’s a double. Shakira lied to everyone."
Evidence? According to supporters of this theory, the artist looked different.
Shakira appeared on the field in a bright yellow outfit, white shorts, on massive platforms, and wearing huge dark sunglasses. Additionally, many users noted that the color of her hair seemed to differ from what they were used to.
Since part of her face was hidden behind the glasses, and her look was slightly different from what fans were accustomed to, speculation quickly spread across X, TikTok, and other platforms. Within just a few hours, the internet was already debating whether they were seeing the real Shakira or her replacement.
Evidence
So far, the singer's team has not responded to the rumors. However, there is one detail that clearly indicates that the person on the field was indeed the real Shakira.
The artist has a small scar on her forehead, which is clearly visible in numerous photographs taken over the past few years. It can be seen, for example, in photos from the Associated Press taken at an event in New York in May 2026.
And yes: the same mark is visible in footage from the World Cup opening ceremony.
Of course, one cannot rule out the possibility that the alleged double studied every gesture of Shakira for months, learned her choreography, copied her hairstyle, and even reproduced the tiniest scar on her face to deceive millions of viewers and dozens of high-definition cameras.
Or, conversely, it was just Shakira.
We tend to lean towards the latter option. After all, her hips don’t lie.
