For the first time in World Cup history, fans didn’t get just one opening ceremony — they got three, spread across two countries and three iconic stadiums, kicking off the biggest tournament the sport has ever seen.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup launched with an unprecedented format: instead of a single ceremony before the tournament’s opening match, FIFA staged separate celebrations in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, each tied to that host nation’s first match of the competition.
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Mexico City Kicked Things Off First
The very first ceremony took place on Thursday, June 11, at Mexico City Stadium — historically known as Estadio Azteca, now rebranded as Banorte Stadium following recent renovations. The venue holds the distinction of becoming the first stadium ever to host three separate World Cup opening matches, having previously held that honor in 1970 and 1986.
The ceremony began roughly 90 minutes before kickoff of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, with global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy headlining the show. The pair performed “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 tournament, alongside a lineup that included Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla. FIFA described the performance as a celebration of Mexican culture through music, dance, and folkloric artistry, featuring both indigenous talent and modern performers.
Toronto and Los Angeles Followed a Day Later
On Friday, June 12, two additional opening ceremonies took place simultaneously across North America — one in Toronto, Canada, and another at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, ahead of the host nations’ opening matches.
The Toronto ceremony featured a distinctly Canadian lineup, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince — a mix designed to represent Canada’s multicultural identity through what organizers called a “cultural mosaic.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles ceremony at SoFi Stadium brought together an international pop lineup featuring Katy Perry, Anitta, Future, LISA, and Rema, with Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis — a FIFA World Cup 2026 ambassador — welcoming fans to the event. Dan + Shay and Pirahei Soul performed the competing nations’ national anthems during the pre-match ceremony.
Who Designed the Ceremonies?
All three opening ceremonies were produced under the creative direction of Marco Balich, the renowned producer behind multiple Olympic opening ceremonies, including the 2026 Winter Games. While each city’s show carried its own distinct visual identity — Canada represented through cultural diversity, Mexico through traditional papel picado artistry, and the U.S. through what Balich described as “a super shiny, glowing cup” — all three were tied together by a shared theme: football’s unique power to unite people across borders.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino summed up the significance of the moment: the World Cup is an event the entire world shares, and that shared experience begins the moment the tournament opens.
A Record-Breaking Tournament Begins
With three opening ceremonies now complete, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway — the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament will run all the way through to its final on Sunday, July 19, in New York.
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