Details of the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

With the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has unveiled an extensive entertainment program across the tournament's three host countries. For the first time in World Cup history, the opening ceremonies will be held simultaneously in Mexico, Canada and the United States, each showcasing local cultures united by the common theme of unity through football. The celebrations will culminate with another historic event: a Super Bowl-themed halftime show at the World Cup Finals in New Jersey, featuring some of the biggest names in world music.## When will the opening ceremonies take place? FIFA will hold three opening ceremonies approximately 90 minutes before each of the host nations' kick-off games. The ceremonies are organized by Marko Balic, creative director of several Olympic opening ceremonies and major international sporting events. While each host country will represent its own cultural identity and artistic style, all three ceremonies will share a common theme celebrating the power of football to unite people across borders.### Ceremony dates and locations

• Mexico City Stadium, Mexico - June 11, 2026
• Toronto Stadium, Canada - June 12, 2026
• Los Angeles Stadium, USA - June 12, 2026 Gulf Standard Time (GST) ceremonies will begin at 9:30 pm on June 11 in Mexico City, at 9:30 pm on June 12 in Toronto and at 3:30 am on June 13 in Los Angeles.## Opening Ceremony in Mexico City Mexico will open the tournament at Mexico City Stadium ahead of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. The featured artists will be global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy, who will perform "Dai Dai", the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "Dai Dai" means "come on" or "come" in Italian. They will be joined by celebrated Latin music icons and international hits including Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downes, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tayla.## Opening ceremony in Toronto The ceremony in Canada will take place at Toronto Stadium before the country's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main theme of the show will be a cultural mosaic that will highlight Canada's diversity through music and performances representing communities across the country. Leading artists Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will bring star power and nostalgia to the stage. They will be joined by an exciting line-up of performers including Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Elyana, Sanjoy, Wejedream and William Prince. The event will be a high-energy spectacle with large-scale visuals, immersive storytelling and performances reflecting the multicultural influence of the United States and its vast global footprint in the entertainment industry. Headliners Katy Perry and Future will be at the center of the celebration, bringing pop glow and hip-hop fire to the stage. They will be joined by an outstanding cast of stars including Anita, LISA, Rema and Tayla.## Show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final The World Cup final on July 19 will be a historic moment with FIFA's first-ever halftime show, a significant change from previous tournaments. The show will take place at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and promises to be a Super Bowl-style spectacle at football's biggest event. Starring global icons Madonna, Shakira and BTS, they will come together for an iconic performance to cap off the tournament with an unforgettable moment. The show will be curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen. Martin's role is to shape the creative direction and artist lineup for the event. FIFA described the production as a landmark entertainment event designed to bring together football, music and global culture on sporting's biggest stage.