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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will commence with three separate opening ceremonies hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. This will mark a historic expansion in the tournament’s launch format, FIFA announced.
The celebrations will take place on June 11 and June 12, 2026, immediately preceding the opening matches in each host nation.
In Mexico City, the tournament will begin at the Mexico City Stadium, formerly known as the Azteca Stadium, with a ceremony scheduled 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
The event will feature performances by J Balvin, Mana, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Lila Downs, and Los Angeles Azules, alongside South African artist Tyla.
Canada’s opening ceremony will follow in Toronto on June 12, ahead of its match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Organizers have described the event as a nationwide cultural presentation reflecting Canada’s regional diversity, featuring performances by Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, and Elyanna.
Later that same day, the United States will host its ceremony in Los Angeles before its match against Paraguay.
The U.S. stage is set to be a pop powerhouse, featuring Katy Perry, Future, Lisa of BLACKPINK, Anitta, Rema, and Tyla, with additional artists expected to be announced in the coming months.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the ceremonies are intended to highlight both the cultural individuality of each host nation and the unity of the expanded tournament.
He described the initiative as a “shared global celebration” integrating music, culture, and football across multiple regions.
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