2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies: Broadcast Rights and Streaming Logistics for Mexico, Canada, and USA
FOX and Telemundo hold exclusive English and Spanish broadcast rights for the three opening ceremonies, with streaming options via YouTube TV, FOX One, and Peacock offering varied access tiers for the June 11 and 12 events.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, will commence with three distinct opening ceremonies preceding the debut matches of each host nation. The tournament officially begins on Thursday, 11 June, with Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Canada’s campaign starts on Friday, 12 June, against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, followed by the United States’ opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, later that evening.
Broadcast rights for the ceremonies are held by FOX for English-speaking audiences and Telemundo for Spanish-speaking viewers. All three events will air 90 minutes prior to their respective matches. The Mexico City ceremony, headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on 11 June. The Toronto ceremony, featuring Alanis Morissette, will follow at 1:30 p.m. ET on 12 June. The final ceremony in Los Angeles, headlined by Katy Perry, will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on the same day.
Streaming availability is distributed across multiple platforms, including FOX One, Tubi, YouTube TV, DirecTV, and Peacock. YouTube TV provides access to the necessary channels, including Fox, FS1, Universo, and Telemundo. The service is currently offering a promotional rate of $67.99 per month for the first five months, rising to $82.99 thereafter, with a 21-day free trial available. Users should note that YouTube TV livestreams may experience a slight delay relative to live broadcasts.
FOX One, the network’s dedicated streaming service, offers a base subscription of $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually, with a seven-day free trial. This platform includes live programming and on-demand content from various FOX channels. Alternatively, Peacock offers an ad-supported plan for $11 per month and an ad-free option for $17 per month, providing live access to NBC affiliates and Spanish-language broadcasts of World Cup matches.
The performance line-ups for each ceremony include additional artists beyond the headliners. The Mexico City event will feature Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla. Toronto’s ceremony will include Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince. The Los Angeles ceremony will feature Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla. While these details are current, performance schedules are subject to potential last-minute adjustments.
