A World Cup isn’t just soccer — it’s a global variety show, and the 2026 opening festivities brought out Katy Perry, LISA, and Anitta, airing on FOX and Telemundo. As someone who tracks where stars show up on screen, I love when the music world and the movie world collide on the biggest stage of all. Here’s the celebrity rundown.
Three continents of pop royalty for a three-nation World Cup. Whoever booked this, well played.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Headliners | Katy Perry, LISA, Anitta |
| Where it aired | FOX and Telemundo |
| Representing | USA, Thailand/South Korea, Brazil |
| Occasion | World Cup 2026 opening festivities |
| Host trio | USA, Mexico, Canada |
Table of Contents
The stars and their screen moments
Katy Perry isn’t just a pop titan — she voiced Smurfette in The Smurfs films and starred in the concert documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me. LISA of BLACKPINK made a buzzy acting debut in The White Lotus season 3, proving the K-pop-to-screen pipeline is very real. And Brazil’s Anitta is a global music force whose visuals are basically mini-movies. Together they made the opening feel like a blockbuster premiere.
Why it matters for the tournament
The opening set the tone: this World Cup is a worldwide cultural event, not just 90 minutes on grass. For the soccer side of opening weekend, our USA vs Paraguay guide has the match details, and the World Cup 2026 hub tracks every host city.
My take
Honestly? Pop stars at sporting events can be hit or miss, but a lineup spanning the USA, Asia, and Brazil for a three-nation World Cup is genuinely smart casting. It told the whole planet, “this one’s for everybody.”
A quick history of World Cup spectacle
Opening shows have become their own event. Think Shakira’s Waka Waka in 2010 or the star-studded kickoffs of recent tournaments — music and soccer have been a package deal for decades now. A three-nation World Cup leaning into a genuinely global pop lineup fits that tradition perfectly, and it signals that this tournament belongs to the whole planet.
What I love is how these performances double as cultural snapshots: the host’s biggest stars, beamed to a billion-plus viewers, setting the emotional tone before a ball is kicked. Expect the production values to keep climbing all the way to the final at MetLife, which will get the full halftime-of-the-world treatment.
If you’re watching at home, tune in early — the pre-match spectacle is now half the fun, and it’s the part your non-soccer friends will actually remember and talk about the next day. A lineup spanning the USA, Asia, and Brazil is smart casting for a tournament this global; it tells everyone, everywhere, “this one’s for you.” For the match details around opening weekend, see our USA vs Paraguay guide and the full World Cup 2026 hub.
What to expect at the closing spectacle: if the opening festivities are any guide, the final at MetLife on July 19 will get an even bigger production, likely with another round of global superstars. These shows have become can’t-miss television in their own right, drawing viewers who don’t even follow soccer. My advice is to treat the ceremonies like the trailer before a blockbuster, settle in early, because the spectacle sets the emotional stakes for everything that follows. They also showcase the host nations’ cultures to billions, which is part of why hosting a World Cup is such a coveted prize. Whether you’re there in the stadium or watching from your couch, the music, the lights, and the sheer scale of it all are a reminder that this is the biggest stage entertainment and sport ever share.
Frequently asked questions
Who performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?
The opening festivities featured Katy Perry, LISA of BLACKPINK, and Brazil’s Anitta.
Where could I watch the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?
It aired on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish.
Has LISA from BLACKPINK acted?
Yes, she made her acting debut in The White Lotus season 3.
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