FIFA World Cup 2026: Katy Perry says she'll perform a song she's never sung before
Washington DC, June 12
Singer Katy Perry has teased a special surprise for football fans ahead of her performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Los Angeles, revealing that she plans to sing a song she has never performed live before.
According to PEOPLE magazine, Perry, who is among the headline performers for the United States opening ceremony on June 12, shared the update while attending the Tribeca Festival premiere of her concert film 'Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour,' 'Live from Paris' earlier this week.
Without revealing the title of the track, the pop star hinted that the song holds a special connection to the occasion. Teasing the mystery performance, Perry said the track is "very fitting" for the ceremony and noted that it comes from one of her earlier records.
"It's very fitting for the ceremonial song that I get to sing," the star told PEOPLE of the specific tune as she attended the Tribeca Festival premiere of her latest concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour -- Live from Paris, on Monday, June 8.
"And it's not new," she further teased. "It's off of one of my records, and I'm very excited to perform it."
Perry is set to perform during the United States opening ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12. She will share the stage with a star-studded lineup that includes Anitta, Future, LISA, Rema and Tyla.
The performance comes as the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway across North America. The tournament officially began on June 11 with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.
The first opening ceremony in Mexico City featured performances by Shakira and Burna Boy, who delivered the first live performance of "Dai Dai," the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Other artists who took the stage included Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules and Mana.
A second opening ceremony is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, featuring performances from Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Buble, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition of the tournament to date, featuring 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The competition will conclude with the final on July 19.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Arre yaar, at least she's doing something unique - performing a song never sung live before. That takes guts. I remember when our Indian artists like A.R. Rahman would pull surprises at global events. Respect to Katy for keeping it fresh! 🇮🇳🎵
Okay, but is it just me or does this feel like a lot of buildup for a mystery that nobody really cares about? I mean, the World Cup is about football, not pop star gimmicks. Also, where are the Indian performers? We have amazing artists like Diljit Dosanjh who could rock a global stage. 🫤
I'm actually excited! As someone who grew up in Delhi but now lives in the US, it's cool to see Katy Perry bringing something special to the opening ceremony. 'California Gurls' is a classic - maybe she'll do that? Either way, it's a big moment for the tournament.
I think it's smart marketing. FIFA knows how to grab attention. But let's be real - the real stars are the players on the field. 48 teams! Imagine if India could ever make it there. That would be the real celebration. Until then, enjoy the show I guess. ⚽🔥
Why is everyone so focused on the US opening ceremony? What about the Mexico City one with Shakira and Burna Boy? That's more my vibe. And Toronto's lineup with Michael Bublé and Nora Fatehi is interesting too. Katy is fine, but I hope she doesn't overshadow the actual football.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.