2026 World Cup Opens With 3 Ceremonies Across 3 Host Nations
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 12
2026 World Cup Opens With 3 Ceremonies Across 3 Host Nations
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 12
Summary
Three opening ceremonies are launching the 2026 World Cup across Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles, the first time each host nation has staged its own curtain-raiser.
The expanded tournament starts with 48 teams, 104 matches and 1,248 players, with each ceremony held 90 minutes before the host country's opening game.
Mexico's event opened on June 11 at Estadio Azteca before Mexico faced South Africa; Toronto follows on June 12 before Canada play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Los Angeles closes the sequence before the United States meet Panama.
Marco Balich is producing all three shows, with headliners including Shakira and Burna Boy in Mexico, Michael Buble in Canada, and Katy Perry in Los Angeles.