World Cup opening ceremonies: What to know
FILE-A detailed view of the FIFA World Cup 2026 sign inside Dallas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, on May 11, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The 2026 World Cup is a week away and ahead of the start of the soccer tournament, there will be star-studded opening ceremonies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
All three host countries will bring their own unique flare to the ceremonies. In Canada, a mosaic will represent its multicultural identity. Mexico's motif will be the traditional paper cutouts called papel picado, while the United States will have "a super shiny, glowing cup," Italian producer Marco Balich told The Associated Press.
What’s the format for the 2026 World Cup ceremonies?
Dig deeper:
The World Cup ceremonies will feature artistic performances that tap into the national identity, and will combine welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball and 30 minutes of musical entertainment.
Each ceremony will take place 90 minutes before the match, following a 25-minute player warm-up. The festivities launch on June 11 in Mexico City, ahead of the Mexico City-South Africa match, with a show featuring Latin rock band Maná, Colombian singer J Balvin and South African pop star Tyla.
RELATED: How to watch the 2026 World Cup
And the event continues June 12 in Toronto before the Canada-Bosnia and Herzegovina game, with entertainers Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé headlining, before traveling to Los Angeles Stadium later that day for the U.S.-Paraguay opener, the Associated Press reported.
Additionally, entertainers will perform at Los Angeles Stadium, including Katy Perry and hip-hop artist Future.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup
What you can do:
Outside of watching the championship on live TV, there are several options audiences can choose from to enjoy the soccer matches.
One free option is through FIFA+ and select YouTube streams. It will also be available for free on Australia’s SBS On Demand.
Other paid options include:
World Cup matches
- June 12, 2026: USA vs Paraguay Live — Los Angeles Stadium (6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET)
- June 19, 2026: USA vs Australia Live — Seattle Stadium (12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET)
- June 25, 2026: USA vs Türkiye Live — Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California (7 p.m. PT/ 10 p.m. ET)
Where are the 2026 World Cup matches being played?
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The United States will host games in Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Houston; Inglewood, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami Gardens, Florida; Philadelphia, Seattle; and San Jose, California.
Two Canadian cities will have World Cup games: Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia.
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In Mexico, games will be played in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.