'Fake Shakira' theories go viral as fans claim they spot 'body double' during World Cup performance
'Fake Shakira' theories go viral as fans claim they spot 'body double' during World Cup performance
Julianna SalinasThu, June 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM UTC
0
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (aol_the_mirror_191)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, June 11, in Mexico City, with the host country taking on South Africa in the first match of the international soccer championship.
Colombian superstar Shakira performed during the opening ceremony at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. The 49-year-old was joined by Burna Boy as they debuted the official song of the 2026 World Cup, Dai Dai. The international hitmaker's performance was met with skepticism, as fans theorized that the singer had been replaced by a 'body double.'
The theories follow Shakira's candid conversation about her tumultuous split with soccer star Gerard Piqué ahead of the World Cup.
• Michael Jackson's harrowing autopsy reveals grim tattoo detail
• Ben Stiller branded 'entitled' as he says he gets Knicks tickets for free while fans struggle
Shakira wore a yellow outfit, white shorts, and platform sneakers, topped off with dark sunglasses, as she took the field. Her signature blonde hair was dyed a light strawberry red color, and her eyes were hidden behind large dark sunglasses, obscuring her appearance.
Fans took to X to speculate, with an influx of comments speculating that Shakira may have had a stand-in take her place for the opening ceremony. One user wrote, "Is that Shakira? She doesn't look like Shakira? Am I tripping ?" as several others referred to the performer as a 'doble,' which translates to 'double.'
Advertisement
'Fake Shakira' theories go viral as fans claim they spot 'body double' during World Cup performance (aol_the_mirror_191)
Another echoed, "Esa no es Shakira … who dat?!?!" as one wrote in Spanish, "Don't tell me I'm the only one who thought that was Shakira's body double."
Others weighed in with comments like, "HAHA why at the World Cup opening did they bring in a Shakira lookalike?" and "Am I the only one who thinks that's not @shakira?? They got a double in thereee." Another skeptic wrote, "Real doubt. What if it's Shakira? Something tells me it's an impersonator."
'Fake Shakira' theories go viral as fans claim they spot 'body double' during World Cup performance (aol_the_mirror_191)
Shakira has been a fixture at the World Cup, having performed at the global tournament in 2006, 2010, and 2014. The pop superstar debuted the iconic official anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the 2010 opening ceremony in South Africa.
This year, the official song is Dai Dai, which means 'come on, come on' in Italian slang. On what drew her to the tune, Shakira said that the lyrics resonated with her, including phrases like "What broke you once made you strong." She explained, "I always thought that I was more fragile or weaker than what life proved me to be."
"Behind every experience in life, there's always a lesson, and we have to be grateful for all those lessons, even for the people that leave you with scars," the real Shakira told PEOPLE, "because they just make us better."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, June 11, with host country Mexico taking on South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The US team will face Paraguay at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday, June 12.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports, and entertainment stories.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
