Three Opening Ceremonies Announced for 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, USA

The 2026 World Cup will feature three separate opening ceremonies in Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles on June 11, 12, and 13, respectively, ahead of the host nations’ first matches. Each event will showcase performances by internationally acclaimed artists, marking an unprecedented triple launch for football’s premier tournament.

The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony celebrations will be split across three host nations, with individual events planned in Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles on June 11, 12, and 13 respectively. Each ceremony will take place before that country’s opening match and will feature high-profile musical performances. The unique setup reflects the joint hosting arrangement involving Mexico, Canada, and the United States, making it the first time multiple venues launch the tournament independently.

Mexican fans will gather at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the first ceremony on the evening of Thursday, June 11, starting at 6:30pm BST. This venue can expect performances from globally renowned artists including Shakira and Burna Boy, who will perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament. Additional Mexican and Latin American talents set to appear in the lineup are Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla live on stage prior to Mexico’s Group A match against South Africa—a rematch of their encounter in the 2010 World Cup opener.

The second opening ceremony in Canada will take place at BMO Field in Toronto on Friday, June 12, also starting at 6:30pm BST before the national team’s game versus Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadian event will be headlined by Michael Bublé, supported by Alessia Cara and Alanis Morissette, alongside performances by Palestinian singer Elyanna, French artist Vegedream—famous for celebrating the 2018 French World Cup victory—Jamie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, and William Prince.

The concluding ceremony on June 13 begins deep into the night at 12:30am BST at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles ahead of the United States’ first match against Paraguay. The ceremony celebrates local pop icon Katy Perry as the headline act, accompanied by rapper Future. Additionally, Tyla will perform her second World Cup show here after appearing in Mexico, alongside international stars such as Lisa from Blackpink, Nigerian musician Rema, and Brazilian singer Anitta. The venues and productions for all three ceremonies are masterminded by Italian producer Marco Balich, noted for his work on the 2026 Winter Olympics’ opening event.