World Cup opening ceremonies kick off across Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles ahead of the tournament’s opening matches—featuring performers including Diana Ross, Katy Perry, Michael Bublé, Shakira, Burna Boy, Tyla, Future, and more. Fans can watch the ce
The World Cup doesn’t really start when the whistle blows.
For anyone planning to catch the tournament from the very beginning. the first thing to lock in isn’t a lineup—it’s the opening ceremony. staged across three host countries before the opening matches. It’s the kind of spectacle that happens in the gap between anticipation and kickoff. when the lights come up and the stadium feels like it’s holding its breath.
In Mexico City, festivities are due to start at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 11, right before Mexico take on South Africa.
Canada’s opening gets underway at 1:30 p.m. ET in Toronto, after which Jesse Marsch’s side against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Then the United States takes its turn. At 7:30 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will host the second staging of the World Cup on American soil, followed by the USMNT against Paraguay.
Performers are stacked, with three lineups already filling the stage. The plan. as FIFA frames it. is for ceremonies that “will bring together music. culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.” FIFA adds: “It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration.”.
Thursday brought one of the biggest additions: Shakira and Burna Boy were announced to join the Azteca lineup at Mexico City, performing the official song of the World Cup, “Dai Dai.”
And if you’ve got a ticket for the opening match, the timing matters beyond the music. FIFA says that “fans at the stadium will have an active role to play in the show and should plan to arrive early.”
Here are the lineups as they stand so far.
Mexico City: Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Burna Boy, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, Shakira, Tyla.
Toronto: Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, William Prince.
Los Angeles: Anitta, Future, Katy Perry, Lisa, Rema.
There’s also one name threaded through the ceremony conversation: Diana Ross is referenced in the build-up, including the moment described as her missing the target with her penalty.
Watching doesn’t require guesswork. Each of the three opening ceremonies is due to start 90 minutes before the games kick off.
In the USA, the games will be broadcast on Fox One, and the ceremonies and games can be streamed on fubo (try for free).
The buzz doesn’t stop at the first match.
There’s a halftime show plan for the World Cup final that’s unlike anything in the tournament’s history. Opening ceremonies are normal, but this will be the first major international soccer tournament with a Super Bowl-style halftime show.
Organizers insist they can fit performances by Madonna, Shakira and BTS into an interval that the laws of the game mandate must not exceed 15 minutes.
The World Cup final is at the New York/New Jersey stadium on July 19.
The halftime show is expected to begin a little after 3:45 p.m. ET, though when it ends is described as another matter entirely.
And between now and then, it’s not just one ceremony or one kickoff. The final halftime plans sit behind the longer runway of 103.5 games before the tournament reaches July 19—and the moment the music is set to take center stage again.
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