2026 World Cup Kicks Off in North America with Historic Multi-Nation Hosting

Kathmandu. The grand festival of world football officially begins tonight. The 2026 World Cup will begin with historic opening ceremonies hosted across North America. This is the first time the tournament will start simultaneously in three host nations. The United States, Mexico, and Canada will officially kick off the biggest World Cup in history. The United States hosted the tournament in 1994, and Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986. Canada will be hosting this tournament for the first time. All three countries will jointly inaugurate this competition. A record 104 matches will be played in 16 host cities. This global tournament will begin with the opening match in Mexico on Thursday and will run until Sunday, July 19, with the final match in New York.

• What will the World Cup opening ceremony be like?

The three interconnected ceremonies hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States are based on a single common theme. The aim is to unite these nations and showcase the culture, identity, and creative talent of each country. Each event will begin 90 minutes before the opening match of the host nation begins. Marco Balich is producing these ceremonies. He is the creative director of many Olympic opening ceremonies, including the 2026 Winter Olympics and other major international sporting events. Each event will have its own distinct characteristics. All three events will be linked by a common theme focused on football's ability to unite people across borders. Each host nation will present its own visual style in the ceremony. Canada will be represented by cultural diversity, Mexico by 'papel picado' (traditional art made by cutting paper), and the United States by what Balich describes as 'an extremely bright and shiny cup'. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, 'The FIFA World Cup is a moment shared by the world. How we start it matters.' He added, 'These ceremonies, starting from Mexico City and continuing in Toronto and Los Angeles in the coming days, will bring together music, culture, and football in a way that reflects both the personality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament. This is truly a powerful way to start a global celebration.' According to 'The Athletic', the ceremony in Mexico City is estimated to last about 16 minutes and 30 seconds. The events in Toronto and Los Angeles are set to last about 13 minutes. After the presentations, teams will be provided with the field for pre-match warm-ups. Then, ceremonies according to the matchday protocol, including players entering the field and official introductions, will begin 25 minutes before the match starts. These ceremonies are estimated to last about 13 minutes.

• Who will play in the opening match?

In the first match of the tournament, Mexico will play against South Africa. This match will take place in Mexico City after the opening ceremony. Canada will play against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. This holds historical significance as it will be the first World Cup match played on home soil by the Canadian men's national team. After the ceremony in Los Angeles, the United States will face Paraguay in its first match.

When and where are the World Cup opening ceremonies?

• Mexico City (June 11)

Mexico will kick off the tournament from the Mexico City Stadium (formerly Estadio Azteca) 90 minutes before the match against South Africa, reminiscent of the 2010 opening match. The ceremony is expected to celebrate Mexican culture through indigenous artists, contemporary folk performances, and the traditional art of 'papel picado'. Artists such as Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Jay Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, and Mana are expected to perform in the official FIFA World Cup album. South African singer-songwriter Tyla will also participate in this event. Shakira is also expected to perform her song 'Dare Dare', meaning 'Let's Go' or 'Come On' in Italian, along with Burna Boy. Shakira is scheduled to headline the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, along with Madonna and the K-pop group BTS. Officials have declared June 11 a public holiday in Mexico City. Schools will be closed, and employers are encouraged to arrange for work-from-home arrangements. Only ticketed spectators, accredited media, and official personnel will be allowed in the stadium area.

• Toronto (June 12)

Canada's ceremony will take place at Toronto Stadium before the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The opening ceremony in Toronto will begin at 1:30 PM local time. The ceremony is designed to take spectators on a 'journey across Canada', highlighting moments that reflect Canada from one end to the other. Centered on the theme of cultural diversity (mosaic), this event will showcase Canada's diversity through music and performances. Artists such as Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Eliana, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanj, Vedrim, and William Prince will participate. The match against Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately following the ceremony is extremely important. This will be the first FIFA World Cup match played by the Canadian men's national team on home soil. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the Toronto ceremony will be a 'powerful reflection of Canada's identity.' He stated that it will be a 'moment of pride, unity, and excitement' as Canada steps onto the biggest stage of football.

• Los Angeles (June 12)

The United States will host its opening celebration at the Los Angeles Stadium before playing Paraguay. The ceremony will feature large-scale visuals, captivating storytelling, and performances by global artists such as Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa, Rema, and Tyla. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said these artists were chosen to reflect America's cultural diversity and vibrant immigrant communities. It will showcase America's significant influence on global pop culture, music, and entertainment.