FIFA has officially announced the artist lineups for all three opening ceremonies of the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and the Los Angeles show at SoFi Stadium is shaping up to be one of the biggest music moments of the year.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament runs through July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada - the largest in the tournament's history at 104 total matches, with the final set for New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Katy Perry will headline the U.S. opening ceremony on June 12, 2026, performing in her home state before the USA takes on Paraguay in Group D. She will be joined by Lisa of Blackpink, rapper Future, South African singer Tyla, Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop star Anitta, and DJ Sanjoy. The ceremony runs 13 minutes and kicks off 90 minutes before the match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
"This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become." - FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Lisa's appearance at SoFi Stadium makes history on two fronts. She becomes the first female K-pop artist and the first Thai performer ever to headline a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony - continuing the story that BTS member Jung Kook started at Qatar 2022 with his performance of "Dreamers."
This year's tournament also marks another first: for the first time in FIFA history, three separate opening ceremonies are being held - one in each host nation. The ceremonies run on consecutive days, creating what FIFA describes as a connected trilogy celebrating each country's music and culture.
Full opening ceremony lineup: All three host nation
United States - SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California - Katy Perry, Lisa (Blackpink), Future, Tyla, Rema, Anitta, DJ Sanjoy
June 12, 2026 - USA vs. Paraguay
Canada - BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario - Michael Buble, Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, William Prince, Elyanna, Vegedream, DJ Sanjoy
June 12, 2026 - Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mexico - Estadio Azteca, Mexico CityMana, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Lila Downs, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, Tyla
June 11, 2026 - Mexico vs. South Africa (tournament opener)
The Los Angeles ceremony holds special weight - not just because of the star power on stage, but because of what the city represents. FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the lineup as a reflection of "the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas." One stage. Seven artists. Every corner of the world represented.
Music has always been the universal language of the World Cup. This year's lineup - spanning American pop, K-pop, hip-hop, Afrobeats, and Latin music - is proof that the world's biggest sporting event and the power of song speak to every nation, every culture, and every corner of the earth. That, in itself, is something worth celebrating.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles takes place June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California. The full tournament runs June 11 - July 19, 2026.
