"Waka Waka", the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, became so popular that it remains the tune many fans most readily associate with football's biggest tournament.
More than a decade later, Shakira returned to the World Cup stage, performing "Dai Dai" at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium. While the appearance attracted widespread attention, it also triggered an unexpected online debate.
Within hours of the show, social media users began questioning whether the Colombian superstar had actually been the person performing on stage.
Shakira joined Nigerian singer Burna Boy for the first live performance of "Dai Dai", the tournament's official theme song, around 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. The show quickly became one of the evening's most talked-about moments.
Soon afterward, however, online discussion shifted from the music to the singer herself. According to Spanish sports daily Marca, some viewers claimed the performer's appearance, movements and facial features did not entirely match Shakira's familiar stage presence.
One social media user cited a dance move from "Dai Dai" that the performer allegedly failed to execute, suggesting the person on stage was a body double rather than the singer.
Others pointed to Shakira's decision to wear dark sunglasses throughout the performance, fuelling further speculation. The claims soon spawned memes and humorous posts, with some users suggesting a stand-in had taken her place during the show.
Marca also reported that the rumours may have been amplified by the growing popularity of a Venezuelan impersonator known as "Shakibecca", who bears a striking resemblance to Shakira and has reportedly been mistaken for the singer on numerous occasions.
Neither Shakira nor her representatives had publicly commented on the claims as of Friday.
