FIFA has confirmed that acclaimed Paraguayan band Purahéi Soul will perform the Paraguayan National Anthem during the opening match ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The duo, comprising Jennifer Hicks Enciso and Miguel Narváez, will perform ahead of Paraguay’s opening match against the United States at Los Angeles Stadium on 12 June 2026.
The announcement, made on 9 June 2026, ends weeks of public speculation over who would ultimately be chosen to represent Paraguay at the tournament. Attention previously focused on several other high-profile Paraguayan artists. Marilina and Mili Hicks were two contenders ultimately unable to participate, prompting widespread discussion among fans and commentators.
Now, conversation and conjecture have yielded to a final confirmation. Accordingly, celebration ensues as Purahéi Soul prepares to bring the sound, language, and identity of Paraguay to a global audience. This world stage brings with it hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in.
A global stage awaits
Purahéi Soul’s appearance forms part of an ambitious pre-match ceremony designed to launch the largest FIFA World Cup in history. American country stars Dan + Shay will perform the United States national anthem before kick-off. Actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis will appear as a 2026 FIFA World Cup Ambassador. The cross-cultural performances aim to welcome supporters, emphasising football’s unique ability to unite across borders and communities.
The ceremony will also feature an impressive line-up of international music stars, including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla. Among the global artists performing, Purahéi Soul’s artistry will provide a distinctly Paraguayan voice.
A journey more than a decade in the making
For Jennifer Hicks and Miguel Narváez, the invitation represents the culmination of years of artistic development. The pair formed Purahéi Soul in 2013 after meeting through a jazz seminar while undertaking a music degree programme at the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Art at the National University of Asunción (FADA-UNA). Initially, the two artists performed folk songs alongside jazz and blues standards. Gradually, their music became an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary.
Their name reflects that philosophy. Purahéi means “song” in Guaraní. Soul references both Afro-American musical influences and the emotional depth associated with the genre. Over the years, Purahéi Soul has emerged as one of Paraguay’s most respected contemporary musical acts. Primarily, they earned acclaim for fusing traditional Paraguayan sounds with Latin American rhythms, jazz, blues, and modern musical influences.
Building a unique musical identity
Purahéi Soul’s breakthrough came with the release of their debut album, Swing Guaraní, in 2018. Featuring songs in Guaraní, Spanish, and English, the album showcased their ability to move seamlessly between typical musical bounds of genre and language while remaining firmly rooted in Paraguayan culture. The project established the underpinning for a sound that has since become synonymous with the group: distinctive and unmistakably Paraguayan.
In the years that followed, Purahéi Soul toured extensively throughout Paraguay and internationally. Hicks and Narváez have toured together in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, England, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. Their growing discography includes popular releases such as Desapego. In 2024, they released the album En Bloque, featuring the single Marina, and in early 2026 dropped Mi Lunita, their latest release.
A defining moment for Paraguayan culture
Beyond its musical significance, the World Cup appearance carries profound symbolic importance. Following a period marked by uncertainty and intense public interest surrounding the anthem performance, FIFA’s announcement delivers a positive outcome that shines a spotlight on Paraguayan talent. When the opening ceremony begins in Los Angeles on 12 June 2026, Jennifer Hicks Enciso and Miguel Narváez will carry with them the sound, spirit, and cultural pride of Paraguay.
The 2026 World Cup enthusiasm continues to swell in Paraguay as the event draws closer. From Panini stickers to send-offs, The Asunción Times covers it all.
