World Cup 2026

Who is singing the Canadian national anthem at the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup game?

One of Canada’s biggest music stars will have the honor of performing “O Canada” before the country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

One of Canada’s biggest music stars will have the honor of performing “O Canada” before the country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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David Nelson
Director AS USA
Scottish journalist and lifelong sports fan who grew up in Edinburgh playing and following football (soccer), cricket, tennis, golf, hockey… Joined Diario AS in 2012, becoming Director of AS USA in 2016 where he leads teams covering soccer, American sports (particularly NFL, NBA and MLB) and all the biggest news from around the world of sport.
Update:

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette will sing the Canadian national anthem ahead of Canada’s Group B clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium in Toronto.

Who is singing the Canadian national anthem at the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup game?
Alanis Morissette.Rob Ball

The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, with Switzerland and Qatar completing the group.

Who is Alanis Morissette?

Morissette, 52, is one of the most successful Canadian artists of all time. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 1, 1974, she rose to international fame in the 1990s with her landmark album Jagged Little Pill, which sold millions of copies worldwide and produced hits including “You Oughta Know,” “Ironic,” “Hand in My Pocket” and “You Learn.” She has sold more than 60 million records and is widely regarded as one of the defining voices of her generation.

The performance will be part of Canada’s World Cup opening ceremony, which begins 90 minutes before kickoff and features a star-studded lineup including Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and William Prince. Actor Will Arnett will also take part in the pre-match festivities.

Morissette is no stranger to performing national anthems. In 2007, she sang both “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks.

Who wrote the Canadian national anthem: O Canada?

The anthem she will perform has a long history. “O Canada” was first commissioned for a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebration in Quebec in 1880, with music composed by Calixa Lavallée and French lyrics written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. While it had been used as Canada’s de facto national anthem for decades, it did not officially become the country’s national anthem until 1980. Interestingly, the English and French versions are not direct translations of one another.

For Canadian fans, hearing one of the country’s most recognizable voices perform “O Canada” before a home World Cup opener promises to be one of the standout moments of the tournament’s opening days.

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