World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Performers, Start Time, Live Stream and TV Schedule

The 2026 World Cup will officially begin on Thursday afternoon with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Before those two teams kick off the group stage, though, fans will be treated to the first of three separate opening ceremonies.

You see, this iteration of the World Cup is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Each of the host nations will also have its own star-studded opening ceremony.

Mexico will have its opening festivities and first match on Thursday, while Canada and the U.S. will follow suit on Friday.

Each opening ceremony is slated to take place 90 minutes before each country's opening match. That will be Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, Canada will open against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday afternoon, and the United States and Paraguay on Friday evening.

Mexico Opening Ceremony

When: Thursday, June 11

Where: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Canada Opening Ceremony

When: Friday, June 12

Where: Toronto Stadium in Toronto

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

United States Opening Ceremony

When: Friday, June 12

Where: SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

U. S. TV: Fox Sports, Telemundo

Mexico TV: Televisa, TV Azteca

Canada TV: CTV, TSN

*All events can be live streamed with the Fox One app

As one might expect, the World Cup opening ceremonies will feature the musical flavors of the three host nations along with other important nods to each country's culture.

"Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "It is a powerful way to begin a truly global celebration."

Mexico's lineup, for example, will feature the likes of Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Burna Boy, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla.

Canada's ceremony will feature well-known Canadian artists like Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, William Prince, and Michael Bublé. The U.S. ceremony will star Future, Katy Perry, Anitta, LISA, and Rema.

As part of the Thursday's ceremony in Mexico, fans will also get to see Shakira and Burna Boy perform the 2026 World Cup's anthem, "Dai Dai."

This will mark the fourth World Cup appearance for Shakira, and the Colombian superstar believes this will be another special one.

"Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically," Shakira said, per Howell Davies of The Sun.

Shakira is also set to be a part of the World Cup Final halftime show, alongside Madonna and BTS. That performance, though, is still over a month away—the final is slated for July 19.

Group play will begin on Thursday, and the knockout stage is scheduled to start on June 28.