The first opening ceremony, which took place on Thursday at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, told Mexico’s story through music, art, and cultural performances blending folk arts, indigenous culture, and technology into a showcase of a Mexico that preserves its traditions while looking toward the future.
The centerpiece of the ceremony was a performance of the official 2026 World Cup theme song “Dai Dai” by Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy. FIFA chose two artists from Latin America and Africa to symbolize cultural connectivity and football’s global appeal.
Canada held its opening ceremony on Saturday at BMO Field in Toronto. Its ceremony recreated a "journey across Canada" that showed off its three coastlines and multi-ethnic diversity. A highlight of the ceremony was a massive mobile mosaic of the World Cup trophy, representing the harmony of the immigrant communities that shape modern Canada. The performance was led by two legendary Canadian vocalists, Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble.
The US opening ceremony was also held on Saturday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, just before the Group D match between the US and Paraguay. The US ceremony, themed “A Hollywood-style Megaparty of Music and Light”, exhibited an explosive, trendy, top-tier entertainment style typical of Los Angeles and the American film industry. SoFi Stadium was lit up by a large-scale visual display of dazzling modern technology and pop and hip-hop global superstars.
The 2026 World Cup will take place over a month, concluding with a final match in New Jersey, the US, on July 19.
