Inside 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies: Everything you need to know
Los Angeles, June 11
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearly over, and football's biggest tournament is set to begin with a grand celebration spread across three countries.
According to ABC News, for the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the tournament will feature three separate opening ceremonies, with celebrations planned in Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles before the opening round of matches.
The festivities will begin on June 11 in Mexico City ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy are set to headline the ceremony with a performance of the official FIFA World Cup song, Dai Dai.
The opening ceremony in Mexico City will take place 90 minutes before kick-off, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT). Fans around the world will be able to watch the event live on Fox and FS1, while Spanish-language coverage will be available on Telemundo. Matches and ceremonies will also be streamed through Tubi, FOX One and the Fox Sports apps, ABC News said.
The celebrations will continue on June 12 with two more opening ceremonies. Toronto will host a ceremony before Canada's clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Los Angeles will stage its own event ahead of the United States' opening match against Paraguay.
The Toronto ceremony will begin 90 minutes before kick-off at 3 p.m. ET, while the Los Angeles event will take place before the 9 p.m. ET kick-off.
Mexico City's opening show is expected to showcase the country's rich cultural heritage. According to FIFA, Mexican culture will take "centre stage through music, dance and artistic performances featuring indigenous talent alongside modern folkloric performers."
Along with Shakira and Burna Boy, several major artists are scheduled to perform in Mexico City, including Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana and Tyla.
Toronto's ceremony will feature a strong Canadian line-up, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Alyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Buble, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles will welcome an international mix of performers, with Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla all set to take the stage.
The celebrations will not end with the opening ceremonies. Shakira is also scheduled to return for the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, where she will headline the tournament's halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS.
The final's halftime entertainment is being curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding access to education and football opportunities for children around the world, as per ABC News.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Three opening ceremonies feel a bit excessive, no? But I guess when you host across three countries, you have to make each one special. I'm glad they're showcasing local talent alongside global stars. The Canadian lineup with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé is quite something! Our Indian diaspora in Toronto must be thrilled to see Nora Fatehi performing there.
As a football fan from the US, I'm buzzing for this! Having matches in LA, Mexico City, and Toronto means I can actually attend multiple games. The final halftime show with Shakira, Madonna, AND BTS? That's going to be insane. Chris Martin curating it is a nice touch too—Global Citizen is doing good work.
Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed that India isn't part of this football festival. We have the passion, we have the numbers—what we lack is the infrastructure and grassroots development. Hopefully, by 2030 or 2034, we'll be there. Until then, I'll be cheering for Mexico or Canada. 🇮🇳🙏
The lineup for LA is phenomenal—Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA from Blackpink... It's going to be a party! I just hope the logistics across three different time zones don't cause confusion for fans. Also, glad to see they're using the platform for education initiatives. Football can really change lives.
Three opening ceremonies means three times the fun! But I'm a bit skeptical about the
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