The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a trilogy of opening ceremonies, with each host nation—Mexico, the United States, and Canada—hosting its own star-studded celebration. Global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, J Balvin, and Lisa from Blackpink will perform, as confirmed by FIFA on Friday.
Mexico City Kicks Off the Festivities
Mexico will start the party 90 minutes before the tournament's first match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 at the renamed Mexico City Stadium. The show will feature Colombian megastar J Balvin, multi-Grammy-winning Mexican rock band Mana, and pop star Alejandro Fernandez, son of legendary ranchero singer Vicente Fernandez. Also performing are Latino pop princess Belinda, singer-songwriter Lila Downs, South African artist Tyla, and Los Angeles Azules, known for traditional Mexican cumbia style.
“The world will share this moment, and that’s how this tournament will begin,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Starting with Mexico City and continuing with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture, and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.”
Toronto’s Show Features Canadian Talent
Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in its opening match on June 12 in Toronto. The ceremony will feature Canadian artists Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, and Nora Fatehi. Organizers promise a “journey across Canada, as the countdown unfolds through moments that reflect the country from coast to coast.”
Los Angeles Closes the Opening Day
Later that day, the United States opens its campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be headlined by pop megastar Katy Perry, who previously performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. She will be joined by rapper Future, Lisa of Blackpink, Brazilian superstar Anitta, Rema, and Tyla, with additional artists to be announced.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” Infantino added. “The lineup reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas.”
Other global artists include Venezuelan reggaeton star Danny Ocean and Bangladeshi-American DJ Sanjoy. Organizers encourage fans to arrive early, as they will have an “active role to play” in the shows. “Across time zones and borders, the celebrations are united by one central idea: a shared heartbeat,” FIFA’s statement concluded.
