The opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For the first time in history, three separate opening ceremonies will be held across the host nations.
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, three countries will host the tournament simultaneously. A record number of teams – 48 – will take part in the tournament, significantly exceeding previous figures.
Musical performances will accompany the opening ceremonies. Entertainment events for fans are planned at each stadium, with fans invited to attend several hours before kick-off.
The first ceremony will take place in Mexico City. The show is scheduled for 90 minutes before the start of the opening match.
The programme includes performances by Grammy Award winners — the pop group Mana, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda and Danny Ocean. The performances aim to convey the richness of Mexican culture through elements of contemporary folklore and the participation of indigenous peoples.
In Toronto, Canada, the celebrations will continue the following day. Artists such as Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara and William Prince will perform in the city. This will be a showcase of Canadian musical talent and cultural diversity.
The final ceremony will take place in Los Angeles, USA. World-renowned singer Katy Perry will headline the event. Other artists performing include Anitta, LISA, Rema, Tyla and Future. It is in the US that the organisers promise to turn the show into a spectacular event that will highlight the ambition and scale of the tournament.
The host nations’ opening matches will take place as follows:
- Thursday, 11 June (22:00). Mexico v South Africa
- Friday, 12 June (22:00). Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Saturday, 13 June (04:00). USA – Paraguay
The 2026 World Cup will run until 19 July. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 cities in the three host nations.
Earlier, Sport Bet published a prediction for the decisive match to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
