Canadian star Alanis Morissette will perform “O Canada” before Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field on Friday, as Toronto’s World Cup opening ceremonies run at 1:30 p.m. ET.
The moment comes 90 minutes before kickoff in Toronto: Canada’s World Cup opening ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET, and the anthem performance will land in the middle of the build-up to a group-stage match that kicks off the tournament’s rhythm across North America.
Alanis Morissette is the name on the ticket for Canada. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter will sing “O Canada” before Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday at BMO Field.
Morissette’s path to that stage has been long enough to feel like part of pop culture’s foundation. She earned global stardom with her 1995 album “Jagged Little Pill.” The record sold more than 33 million albums worldwide and produced hits including “You Oughta Know” and “Ironic.” The album also led to a Broadway musical that earned Morissette a Tony nomination.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Morissette later relocated to Los Angeles prior to the release of “Jagged Little Pill.” In a 2020 interview, she said she moved to northern California after growing disenchanted with LA.
Her selection comes as the industry continues to spotlight her work beyond the World Cup moment. On Thursday, Morissette was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Her fellow inductees included Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss and Taylor Swift.
Canada’s matchup also brings in a different kind of spotlight for the other anthem. Aleksandar Gajić, a Serbian-born violinist who lives in Toronto, will perform the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Across the continent, host countries have been rolling out their own anthem performances ahead of the group stage. Mexico kicked off the festivities on Thursday. with Mexican music icon Alejandro Fernández singing the national anthem before El Tri and South Africa faced off in group-stage play. The U.S. men’s national team begins its quest for a World Cup title in Los Angeles on Friday. where country music duo Dan + Shay will sing the national anthem ahead of the USMNT’s match against Paraguay. FIFA has tapped another duo, Purahei Soul, for Paraguay’s anthem.
The sequence is straightforward on its face, but it plays like a broader stage setup: each host-country match is being paired with a recognizable voice, turning pregame minutes into a public introduction of the tournament’s cultural cast.
As Toronto’s ceremonies start at 1:30 p.m. ET and Canada opens against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday at BMO Field, Morissette’s “O Canada” becomes the next stop in a North American anthem lineup already in motion.
2026 FIFA World Cup Canada national anthem Alanis Morissette BMO Field Toronto opening ceremony Bosnia and Herzegovina anthem Aleksandar Gajić USMNT anthem singers Dan + Shay Purahei Soul Alejandro Fernández