2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony: Schedule, TV, artists, and how to watch the performances online

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a tournament filled with firsts.

For the first time in history, the World Cup will feature three separate opening ceremonies across the tournament’s three host nations. The competition will also embrace a distinctly American tradition, with the championship match set to include the first halftime show ever staged at a FIFA World Cup final.

Each host country, the United States, Mexico and Canada, will hold its own opening ceremony. The first will take place at Mexico City’s Estadio Ciudad de México before the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. Canada and the United States will then stage their own celebrations as the competition gets underway.

Everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in the United States

The United States’ first World Cup match is scheduled for Friday, June 12, at SoFi Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament under FIFA regulations that prohibit the use of non-official commercial sponsors.

The United States will face Paraguay at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET, but the opening ceremony is set to begin 90 minutes earlier at 4:30 p.m PT / 7:30 p.m. ET.

Stadium gates will open four hours before kickoff, giving fans access to exclusive activities, entertainment experiences, giveaways and live pregame programming throughout the venue.

Confirmed performers for the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in the United States

• Katy Perry
• Future
• Anitta
• LISA
• Rema
• Tyla

Artists performing at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico

In addition to headlining the halftime show at the World Cup final, Shakira will perform at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11. The Colombian superstar and Burna Boy are set to perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Shakira and Burna Boy will be joined by several other artists at Estadio Ciudad de México for the opening celebration, which gets underway at 1:30 p.m. ET, 90 minutes before Mexico vs South Africa kicks off.

Confirmed performers in Mexico

• Alejandro Fernández
• Belinda
• Burna Boy
• Danny Ocean
• J Balvin
• Lila Downs
• Los Ángeles Azules
• Maná
• Shakira
• Tyla

Artists performing at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Canada

Canada’s opening ceremony is also scheduled for June 12 and will take place at Toronto Stadium at 1:30 p.m. ET. The co-hosts first game of the tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina follows at 3:00 p.m.

Confirmed performers in Canada

• Alanis Morissette
• Alessia Cara
• Elyanna
• Jessie Reyez
• Michael Bublé
• Nora Fatehi
• Sanjoy
• Vegedream
• William Prince

World Cup 2026 opening ceremonies: times and how to watch

Mexico opening ceremony

Thursday, June 11 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. Mexico vs South Africa follows at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Canada opening ceremony

Friday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET at BMO Field, Toronto. Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina follows at 3:00 p.m. ET.

United States opening ceremony

Friday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. USMNT vs Paraguay follows at 9:00 p.m. ET.

All three ceremonies will be broadcast in the United States on FOX and Fox Sports 1. Spanish-language broadcasts will also be available on Telemundo and Universo.

Confirmed artists for the 2026 World Cup final halftime show

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will make history as the first championship match to feature a halftime show.

FIFA and Global Citizen announced in May that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the historic performance during the World Cup final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.

The addition of a halftime show reflects FIFA’s effort to bring elements of major American sporting events to the world’s biggest soccer tournament, creating another landmark moment in what is already shaping up to be one of the most unique World Cups ever staged.

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