The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony delivered a spectacular night of entertainment at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as some of the world’s biggest music stars took centre stage before the United States men’s national team kicked off its campaign.
Thousands of fans packed the stadium to witness the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony, which featured performances from Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA of BLACKPINK, Rema and Tyla. The star studded event set the tone for the United States’ opening match and created an electric atmosphere before kickoff.
One of the final highlights of the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony came when country music duo Dan + Shay performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the United States’ first match of the tournament. Their rendition of the national anthem received a warm reception from the home crowd as excitement continued to build inside the stadium.
Shortly before kickoff, Katy Perry delivered a memorable performance of her song “Wonder.” The global pop star began by holding the hand of Tius Luka, the young singer who originally recorded the song with her in 2021 when he was just five years old.
Tius Luka sang the opening line before Perry took over and walked around a small platform positioned at the centre of the pitch. Her uplifting performance reflected the spirit of the occasion and quickly became one of the standout moments of the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony.
Fans online also reacted strongly to Perry’s sparkling silver dress, which featured a dramatic design that extended outward at the waist and immediately drew attention across social media platforms.
Earlier in the evening, NFL legend Tom Brady appeared as the narrator of a powerful hype video titled “The Pursuit.” The video featured highlights from football teams around the world and challenged the United States squad to embrace the demands of competing at the highest level.
“You’re not playing the elementary school team,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion said. “You’re playing against the other best teams in the world.”
Brady continued his message by stressing how difficult competition often reveals a team’s true character.
“I need to figure out if it’s in you,” he said. “If it’s in you, let’s go. You’re my team. Let’s ride.”
The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony also showcased music from the official tournament album. LISA, Anitta and Rema performed their collaboration “Goals” in a visually stunning production that celebrated Los Angeles culture.
LISA opened the performance surrounded by white cutout displays featuring iconic symbols of Los Angeles, including a surfboard, palm trees and the Santa Monica Ferris wheel. The BLACKPINK star wore a white corset with matching shorts and boots while dancers dressed in coordinated outfits joined her on stage.
Moments later, Anitta emerged from a creative Hollywood sign set piece as dancers separated the structure to reveal the Brazilian superstar. Wearing white baggy trousers and a layered crop top, she energized the crowd alongside dancers dressed in streetwear inspired outfits.
Rema then joined the performance wearing a white hoodie and matching trousers decorated with sparkling chains. The Nigerian star delivered his section of the song before reuniting with LISA and Anitta for a grand finale that brought the crowd to its feet.
Another major moment of the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony saw Future and Tyla perform “Game Time,” another official song from the World Cup album.
Future opened the performance from a stage positioned at the centre of the pitch. Wearing a sparkling red and silver Louis Vuitton jacket, the American rapper delivered his verses before South African sensation Tyla appeared on the side of the stage.
Tyla wore a white crop top featuring blue and white star details on the sleeves alongside blue sweatpants. She performed choreography with two dancers before joining Future at centre stage to close out the motivational anthem.
The 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony officially began at approximately 7:41 p.m. ET and immediately grabbed the attention of fans inside SoFi Stadium.
The show opened with an actor dressed in a gold Revolutionary War inspired outfit marching across a white stage decorated with a blue map of the United States. A drumline accompanied the performance while a futsal player dressed in yellow showcased skills on the field, creating a uniquely American introduction to the event.
The celebration formed part of a historic summer for the tournament’s three co-host nations. While Mexico and Canada staged their own opening ceremonies earlier in the week, the United States delivered a production packed with global music stars, sporting icons and cultural references.
By the time the players emerged from the tunnel, the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony had already provided fans with an unforgettable spectacle and a fitting start to one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
