North America Prepares for Tri-National 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremonies
With broadcast rights secured by FOX and Telemundo, the 2026 FIFA World Cup launches with three distinct opening ceremonies, marking the first tournament to feature 48 teams and a half-time show in the final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to commence with a coordinated series of opening ceremonies across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, reflecting the expanded scope of the tournament. The first event is scheduled for June 11 in Mexico City at 1:30 p.m. ET, preceding the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. This ceremony will be headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, who recently released the official song "Dai Dai". They will be joined by a roster of performers including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla.
The second ceremony will take place in Toronto on June 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET, ahead of Canada’s Group A match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadian lineup features Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince. Infrastructure preparations in Toronto have included the installation of temporary bleacher seating at BMO Field to increase capacity near the regular stands.
Later that day, the United States will host its opening ceremony in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. ET, before the U.S. faces Paraguay. Performers for the U.S. event include Anitta, Future, Katy Perry, Lisa, and Rema. National anthems will be sung by Dan + Shay and Purahei Soul, while FIFA World Cup ambassador and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis is slated to welcome fans.
Logistical coordination has been a priority for the host nations. In Los Angeles, a tentative agreement was reached between the union representing 2,000 food and beverage workers and Legends Hospitality on June 9, averting a potential strike. Meanwhile, the Mexico City Stadium, which will host the opening fixture, is noted as the first stadium to host three FIFA World Cup opening matches.
Broadcast coverage for all three ceremonies will be provided by FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish. Viewers across the region can stream the events online via FOX One, Tubi, Peacock, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream. The expanded tournament, which includes a half-time show in the final curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, marks a significant shift in the structure of international football competitions.
