The Pressure Shows Up Early
TORONTO — Ninety minutes before Canada's men's national team kicks off its second-ever World Cup campaign, the country will turn to one of its most recognizable musical exports to set the tone. Michael Bublé, the 50-year-old Italian-Canadian singer, will headline Canada's opening ceremony at BMO Field on Friday, less than an hour before Canada takes on Bosnia & Herzegovina in its Group B opener.
The British Columbia-born star isn't the only familiar name on the bill. Alanis Morissette, the seven-time Grammy winner who has sold over 60 million records worldwide, will also perform at the ceremony. The 52-year-old Ontario-born singer, who became a U.S. citizen in 2005, carries Italian heritage of her own—a common thread among this roster.
The scale is the story here; with 48 teams involved, the calendar starts doing some of the reporting.
Local talent gets representation too. Cara, the Toronto-born artist of Italian descent, became the first Canadian to win a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2018. She called hosting the World Cup a "historic moment" for the nation. William Prince, a folk and country singer from Manitoba's Peguis First Nation, rounds out the domestic billing.
The international flavor comes via Elyanna, the 24-year-old Palestinian-Chilean singer who opened for Coldplay at Wembley last year. She collaborated with Toronto native Jessie Reyez on "Illuminate," a track for the official tournament album. Vegedream, the French rapper behind the 2018 hit "Ramenez la coupe à la maison," also appears, alongside Canadian singer Nora Fatehi.
The Detail That Tilts It
The United States gets its own spectacle at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Katy Perry, who reportedly dates former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will headline the U.S. opening before the USMNT faces Paraguay on Friday. Atlanta-born rapper Future, whose career spans over 20 years, will perform his track "Game Time" with South African singer-songwriter Tyla. LISA, the Thai rapper and Blackpink member with nine Guinness World Records, will perform "Goals" with Anitta and Rema. FIFA also tapped Paraguayan singer Marilina Bogado—two million Instagram followers—for the ceremony.
Mexico opens things in Mexico City on Thursday at Estadio Azteca, with Maná widely regarded as the greatest Spanish-language rock band of all time. The 55-year-old Fernández will perform Mexico's national anthem before El Tri faces South Africa—a repeat of their 2010 opener. Belinda, one of Latin music's most successful active acts with over three million records sold, released "Por Ella" as the second single on the 2026 World Cup album in mid-April.
Three host cities. 48 competing nations. One unified continent. The 2026 World Cup is officially the largest in the tournament's near-100-year history, and FIFA has made sure the opening ceremonies match that scale.
This article is based on reporting from multiple sources.