USMNT 2026 – The U.S. men’s national team begins its 2026 World Cup run Friday, June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla headlining a high-profile opening ceremony—hours before kickoff against Paraguay.
The stadium lights were already gathering attention long before the U.S. men’s national team took the field Friday night. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony unfolded around 7:41 p.m. E.T., setting the tone for a U.S. opener that starts shortly after 9 p.m. E.T. against Paraguay.
The performances were built like a pop-pageant around the World Cup’s global branding: LISA, Anitta and Rema delivered their song “Goals,” while Future and Tyla performed “Game Time,” both tracks tied to the World Cup album.
LISA began the performance with white cutouts celebrating Los Angeles—surfboard imagery, palm trees and the Santa Monica Ferris wheel. She wore a white corset with matching shorts and boots. and moved through a stage surrounded by dancers dressed in a similar look featuring adidas shorts. knee-high socks and sneakers.
Anitta was revealed as dancers broke apart a Hollywood sign and she appeared among palm tree cutouts. She wore white baggy pants and a layered crop top shirt, performing alongside dancers in streetwear-style outfits with vests and cargo pants.
Rema then appeared onstage in a white hoodie and pants, sparkling chains included, to deliver his part of “Goals.” LISA and Anitta joined him for the grand finale.
Future and Tyla brought the ceremony toward its motivational close with “Game Time.” Future started from a stage at the center of the pitch. rapping in a sparkly red and silver Louis Vuitton jacket. Tyla joined from the side of the stage wearing a white crop top with blue and white stars on the sleeves and blue sweatpants. Dancers accompanied the choreography before the duo joined forces to finish the anthem.
The ceremony itself began at approximately 7:41 E.T. at SoFi Stadium, after Friday’s event was originally scheduled for about 7:30 p.m. E.T.—90 minutes before kickoff of the USA-Paraguay match.
Behind the spectacle, there was also visible urgency in the run-up. At around 7:30 E.T., the broadcast described by a reporter on the ground at SoFi Stadium said there was no staging set up yet for the opening ceremony.
The opening night program also included a narrative on the pitch: an actor in a gold Revolutionary War-style outfit marched on a white stage bearing a map of the United States in blue, surrounded by a drumline. A futsal player wearing yellow then came on to perform.
Before the performances, attention also moved to the broader U.S. buildup. Patrick Mahomes narrated a hype video for the USMNT ahead of the World Cup opener. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback—three-time Super Bowl champion—also serves as a co-owner of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current and the MLS’ Sporting Kansas City. In the video. Mahomes framed 2026 as a contrast to the 1994 tournament hosted in the United States. saying. “But we know better. ” and adding. “It’s our time.”.
Fans, too, showed up prepared for noise and color. Fox Sports aired a clip of the American Outlaws walking to the national team’s World Cup opening match in stars and stripes gear and holding red and blue smoke bombs.
For first-time World Cup album fans, the ceremony’s soundtracks matched a larger release. For the first time. FIFA released an album to commemorate the World Cup. made up of 18 tracks featuring artists from around the globe. The album includes LISA, Stormzy, Daddy Yankee and 21 Savage among the features. Jelly Roll and Carín León teamed up for the lead single “Lighter. ” while Future and Tyla joined for “Game Time.” The official World Cup anthem is “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy.
The U.S. festivities also landed in a wider timeline across host countries. Canada’s World Cup opening ceremony took place in the morning at BMO Field in Toronto ahead of the United States’ own event, with Michael Bublé, Jessie Reyez, Elyanna, Nora Fatehi and others performing.
Tyla’s name connects the ceremonies across borders. A day before the U.S. opening, she sang the national anthem for her home country, South Africa, ahead of South Africa’s opening match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Shakira was part of Mexico City’s opening ceremony on Thursday, June 11 at Estadio Azteca, where she performed “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy. J Balvin, Los Ángeles Azules and Maná also took part in the festivities.
The choreography of the night—pop stars. sports imagery. drumline energy and global album tracks—lands with a clear aim: keep the U.S. matchup against Paraguay in sharp focus, even as the world watches the opening show. The U.S. kickoff comes on schedule. while the ceremony’s late staging scramble only adds to the sense that Friday night is about to deliver more than just music—once the ball is actually rolling.
USMNT 2026 World Cup SoFi Stadium opening ceremony Katy Perry Future Anitta LISA BLACKPINK Rema Tyla Paraguay Patrick Mahomes FIFA World Cup album