FIFA World Cup 2026 to Feature Separate Opening Ceremonies in Mexico, Canada, and United States

Bangkok: FIFA is preparing to hold separate opening ceremonies for the World Cup in three countries: Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The International Federation of Football (FIFA) announced on Friday that separate opening ceremonies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held before the first matches in each of the three host countries. This year's World Cup is being held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Thai artist Lisa Manoban will be among the performers. According to Thai News Agency, the biggest FIFA World Cup in history will kick off on June 11th in Mexico City, with the Grammy-winning Mexican pop band Maná performing as part of the lineup, along with Alejandro Fernández and Belinda. FIFA stated via the X platform that the Mexico City concert will focus on showcasing Mexican culture through ethnic performances and contemporary art. For Canada, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, William Prince, and Sanjoy, an American DJ of Bangladeshi descent, will perform before Canada's op ening group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12th. FIFA has stated that the concert will feature a mosaic replica of the World Cup trophy to reflect Canada's diversity and community. On the same day, American singer Katy Perry will lead the opening ceremony before the Games between the United States and Paraguay in Los Angeles. She will be joined by Future (Nayvadius Wilburn), a renowned rapper from Atlanta, along with artists such as Anitta, Lisa (Lalisa Manoban), a Thai member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK who has achieved international recognition and collaborated with many world-class artists, Rema, and Tyla. The US opening ceremony is designed to showcase the grandeur and cultural influence of the Games through a powerful performance. This year's FIFA World Cup marks the second time it has been jointly hosted by multiple countries, following the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. On that occasion, South Korea hosted only the opening ceremony.