Alejandro Fernández honors father Vicente Fernández with World Cup anthem performance

Alejandro Fernández delivered an emotional rendition of the Mexican national anthem at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony, held in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. The regional Mexican music star, dressed in a charro suit, performed before a crowd of over 80,000 people and a global audience, as Mexico kicked off its tournament against South Africa.

Fernández confessed to feeling extremely nervous before taking the stage, acknowledging the immense pressure of performing for such a large crowd and the worldwide viewership. "I was very nervous," he admitted prior to his appearance. The performance, however, was met with widespread acclaim, with many attendees moved to tears.

Following the successful rendition, "El Potrillo" expressed his gratitude for the experience, dedicating a special message to his father, the legendary Vicente Fernández, who passed away in December 2021. "Thank you, old man, it turned out as you taught me, and I'm sure you enjoyed it from above as I did," he wrote, sharing a photo of himself as a child singing alongside his father.

Fernández reflected on his lifelong love for football, a passion shared by his family. He stated, "I was born with two blessings, I have always said it and I will continue to say it until the last day: BEING BORN MEXICAN AND BEING BORN FERNÁNDEZ." He described the feeling of representing his country as profoundly different from a typical performance, emphasizing the honor and the nerves involved. The sentiment was echoed by celebrities like Lucero, who praised his performance as "a crack singing the National Anthem."