With just days to go before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, details of the opening ceremonies set to take place in Mexico, Canada, and the United States are becoming clearer.
In line with its ambition to make this edition a global celebration of football and culture, FIFA has assembled an impressive lineup of international artists to mark the launch of the tournament.
For the first time in World Cup history, three separate opening ceremonies will be held across the three host nations. The shows have been designed by Marco Balich, renowned for directing several major international sporting ceremonies.
Mexico Kicks Off the Festivities with Shakira and Burna Boy
On June 11, the legendary Estadio Azteca will host the first ceremony ahead of the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. The celebrations will be headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, who are set to perform the tournament’s official anthem.
They will be joined by J Balvin, Tyla, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, and Belinda.
Vegedream Among the Guests in Toronto
The following day, Toronto will take over with a ceremony at BMO Field before the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The lineup will feature Canadian stars Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette, while French-speaking audiences will also enjoy a performance by Vegedream.
Katy Perry Headlines the U.S. Ceremony
In the United States, the opening ceremony will take place at SoFi Stadium before the U.S. national team's first match against Paraguay.
American superstar Katy Perry will lead the show alongside several internationally acclaimed artists, including Future, Lisa, Rema, and Anitta.
A Historic Halftime Show Planned for the Final
The celebrations will not end with the opening ceremonies. For the first time ever, FIFA is planning a halftime show during the World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
According to reports from several American media outlets, Shakira is expected to be joined by Madonna and the world-famous South Korean group BTS.
For FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the goal is clear: to deliver a show worthy of the world’s biggest sporting event and make the 2026 edition as memorable on stage as it is on the pitch, according to RMC Sport.