World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonies: Shakira, Katy Perry, Every Performer and What Fans Need to Know

For the first time in history, the World Cup opens with not one but three separate ceremonies — one for each host nation. Mexico goes first on June 11. Canada and the United States both follow on June 12. Shakira is back. Katy Perry headlines in LA. LISA becomes the first female K-pop artist to perform at a World Cup. And the whole thing kicks off tomorrow. Here is everything you need to know.

All three ceremonies at a glance

Each ceremony runs approximately 30 minutes of live music, wrapped around speeches, a flag parade and the formal presentation of the match ball. These are not Super Bowl-scale productions — FIFA and producer Marco Balich have been clear that they are compact, punchy pre-match celebrations rather than hour-long spectacles. Think 30 minutes of serious musical firepower, then football.

Gates at each stadium open four hours before kickoff. Fans attending any of the three opening matches should plan to arrive early — not just for security queues, but for the pre-match activations and entertainment FIFA has set up inside the venues before the ceremony itself begins. Check the full stadium guide for access and transport details at each venue.

Ceremony 1 — Mexico City

This is the one that opens the entire tournament — and it has the biggest musical lineup of the three ceremonies. Shakira performing "Dai Dai," the official tournament anthem, with Burna Boy is the headline moment. Shakira is no stranger to this stage: she performed "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, one of the most-watched World Cup performances ever. Coming back to open the biggest World Cup in history, in the region where she built her career, makes it a genuinely special moment.

J Balvin adds one of the biggest names in reggaeton. Maná — the Mexican rock band who have been at the top of Latin music for three decades — bring the home crowd element. The inclusion of Lila Downs and Los Ángeles Azules represents the indigenous and traditional Mexican music scene, which gives the show cultural weight beyond the pop billing.

Tyla, the South African singer who broke globally with "Water," performs here as a symbolic bridge between Mexico and the tournament's first opponents. She is also the only artist performing at two ceremonies — appearing again in Los Angeles the following day.

Mexico City's match is a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg, which finished 1-1 with South Africa as hosts. That storyline adds something to the occasion beyond the music. The Estadio Azteca also becomes the first stadium in history to host matches at three separate World Cups — 1970, 1986 and now 2026.

Ceremony 2 — Toronto

Canada has never hosted the men's World Cup. This is their moment and their lineup reflects exactly what the country is — a genuinely multicultural nation with a music scene that draws from everywhere. Michael Bublé, the Vancouver-born singer who is one of the most globally recognisable Canadian artists alive, said he was "honoured" to be part of the ceremony and "can't wait to celebrate with fans from around the world."

Alanis Morissette, one of the biggest selling Canadian artists of all time, brings serious weight to the lineup. Alessia Cara — Toronto-born, Grammy-winning — is one of the most successful Canadian pop artists of the streaming era. Jessie Reyez is another Toronto voice with a dedicated international following.

Elyanna is one of the most interesting bookings of all three ceremonies. Palestinian-Chilean, born in Chile to Palestinian parents, she has become one of the most prominent voices in Arabic-language music globally. She and Jessie Reyez collaborated on "Illuminate," a track from the official World Cup 2026 album. Her presence at a ceremony representing diversity and coexistence carries real resonance.

Vegedream, the French singer best known for "Ramenez la coupe à la maison" — his viral anthem celebrating France's 2018 World Cup win — brings an international football culture flavour to Toronto's show. He is the kind of booking that works because football fans already know the song.

Ceremony 3 — Los Angeles

Katy Perry headlines in her home state of California — she was born in Santa Barbara and built her career in Los Angeles. SoFi Stadium, one of the most technically advanced venues in the world, is the right stage for a Hollywood-scale production. This is the US' first men's World Cup since 1994 and the opening ceremony at SoFi is being built accordingly.

LISA — the Thai-born member of BLACKPINK, one of the most streamed artists globally — makes history here. She becomes the first female K-pop artist and the first Thai artist to headline a World Cup opening ceremony. BTS member Jung Kook performed at Qatar 2022, but this is a different kind of moment. LISA's global fanbase is enormous and the K-pop audience for this ceremony will be massive.

Rema, the Nigerian Afrobeats star whose "Calm Down" spent over a year on global charts, brings the Afrobeats dimension that has become part of mainstream global pop. Anitta, the Brazilian pop star with over 60 million Instagram followers, carries South American energy into the LA show — fitting for a city with one of the largest Brazilian diaspora communities in the US. Future adds the hip-hop strand.

Tyla returns for her second ceremony of the tournament. After performing in Mexico City the previous day, her presence in LA underlines her status as one of the biggest emerging artists of the moment.

The official World Cup 2026 song — Dai Dai

"Dai Dai" was released on May 14, 2026. Shakira and Burna Boy performing it live at the Estadio Azteca in front of 87,500 people will be the most-watched moment of the opening week. The song is built around a celebration theme and blends Shakira's Latin pop style with Burna Boy's Afrobeats signature — a combination that reflects the tournament's three-continent fanbase.

Beyond "Dai Dai," FIFA has released an 18-track official World Cup 2026 Album — the largest music project in the tournament's history. Tracks from the album are woven through all three ceremonies, with artists like Jessie Reyez and Elyanna ("Illuminate"), J Balvin ("JUMP" with Coca-Cola), and others contributing original material tied to the tournament.

Records and firsts at World Cup 2026

What fans attending need to know

If you have a ticket to any of the three opening matches, plan your day around these specifics. Gates open four hours before kickoff at all three venues. FIFA has set up entertainment activations, fan zones and exclusive experiences inside the stadium from gate open — arriving early is genuinely worth it on this occasion, not just for security queue reasons.

The ceremony itself starts 90 minutes before kickoff. That is when the music and formal pre-match show begins. If you are inside the stadium before that point, you get the full experience. If you arrive after the ceremony has started, you will miss part of it — and unlike the match itself, there is no way to catch up on what you missed once you are seated.

Make sure your mobile ticket is open in the FWC2026 app before you leave your accommodation. Check the specific bag and entry rules for your stadium. Only clear bags are permitted. Outside food and full water bottles are not allowed in. Have your travel route planned before you go — on opening day and opening match day across all three host nations, public transit is the most reliable option at every venue.

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