Lineup of Celebrities Enlivens the World Cup Opening Ceremony Across the Three Host Nations

The United States, Canada and Mexico delivered far more than just world-class Football for the opening fixtures of the 2026 World Cup. All three host nations also staged grand opening celebrations packed with international A-list celebrities for the world's largest football tournament.

The main spotlight fell on Los Angeles, as the United States hosted its second World Cup following the 1994 edition. The entire stadium atmosphere transformed into a giant entertainment stage as top musical artists performed ahead of kickoff.

Southern California native Katy Perry was one of the headline performers, taking the stage just before players walked out onto the pitch. Her set capped off pre-match entertainment that had built excitement right from the start of proceedings.

Alongside Katy Perry, the Los Angeles stage also featured Grammy award-winning South African singer Tyla, Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta, and LISA of K-pop group Blackpink. This cross-continental star line-up reflected FIFA's ambition to frame the 2026 World Cup as a global celebration of both sport and culture.

High-Profile guests inside the stadium were equally attention-grabbing. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, Football Legend David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sofia Vergara, Owen Wilson, Paris Hilton, Rob Lowe and Cruz Beckham were all spotted witnessing this historic moment.

Meanwhile in Canada, opening ceremonies carried a distinct but equally grand tone. All eyes turned to Toronto as iconic musicians Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé led the country's opening proceedings.

Alanis Morissette was given the honour of performing the Canadian national anthem before a full stadium crowd. Her performance received a rapturous reception and became one of the most emotional moments of the tournament launch.

Michael Bublé then took the stage alongside a choir to lead the audience in a performance of Mississippi soul legend Sam Cooke's classic track "Bring It on Home to Me".

Canada also featured other established artists including Alessia Cara, Palestinian singer-songwriter Elyanna, plus Toronto-connected acts Jessie Reyez and Nora Fatehi. Manitoba-born musician William Prince also appeared as part of the line-up.

The atmosphere was no less electric in Mexico City. The Mexican capital's opening ceremony starred global superstar Shakira alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy. This blend of Latin and African sounds embodied the international spirit at the heart of the World Cup. Additional performers included Andrea Bocelli and EJAE.

Yet despite the gathering of global celebrities, none of the three host nation heads of government attended their respective opening matches. United States President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney were both absent from the opening fixtures held in their countries.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Los Angeles to attend the opening ceremony, representing the White House at the event.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also did not attend her country's opening match.

The 2026 World Cup celebrations are far from over. FIFA has planned an equally spectacular closing ceremony scheduled for 19 July, with headline acts including Coldplay's Chris Martin, Madonna, and Shakira set to perform.

Pairing world-class football with this parade of global stars, the 2026 World Cup is not just the largest sporting event on the planet -- it also stands as one of the most spectacular global entertainment productions ever staged in North America. (BBC.com)