FIFA to hold three World Cup opening ceremonies and two marking America 250, artists revealed – The Athletic
FIFA are planning to hold opening ceremonies at each of the first games of the World Cup featuring host nations this summer, as well as special ceremonies to mark America’s 250th anniversary at games in Houston and Philadelphia on July 4.
According to sources familiar with the planning, FIFA has lined up a catalog of artists to perform ahead of kick-off at the opening games featuring hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States.
These include Canadian singers Michael Buble, Alanis Morissette and Alessia Cara, who are signed up and expected to star at Canada’s first group stage match against Bosnia & Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
Later that day, the U.S. men’s national team begin their campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, where Katy Perry is lined up as the headliner. Other American talent signed up by FIFA includes the rapper Future, as well as Bangladeshi-American Sanjoy, who is a Los Angeles-based DJ.
Katy Perry will headline the opening ceremony at the USMNT’s first game (Cynthia Pankhurst)
Lisa, the Thai rapper and singer who shot to stardom with South Korean girl group Blackpink, has also been signed up by FIFA. There is also representation from the USMNT’s opponents Paraguay, with the Paraguayan artist Marilina Bogado due to perform.
The opening match of the tournament will see Mexico play South Africa on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium. This will feature performances from the multi-Grammy-award winning Mexican rock band Mana, as well as popstar Alejandro Fernandez and singer Belinda. FIFA have also signed up Los Angeles Azules, who play music in the traditional Mexican cumbia style. The show will also include South African singer-songwriter Tyla.
FIFA also have global talent which will be split across the ceremonies, including Colombian J Balvin, Brazilian Anitta, the Venezuelan Danny Ocean, Palestinian-Chilean act Elyanna, as well as Vegedream from France. Other acts with Canadian roots include Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi and William Prince.
FIFA will seek to encourage fans to take their seats early for the opening ceremonies, which are scheduled to start 90 minutes prior to kick-off at the three games. According to planning materials seen by The Athletic, the Mexican ceremony is currently scheduled to last 16 minutes and 30 seconds, while both the U.S. and Canadian shows are slated for 13 minutes each.
Players will then be able to use the field for their pre-match warm-up, ahead of protocol ceremonies taking place at all three games, which will start 25 minutes prior to kick-off and last 13 minutes each.
Thai rapper and singer Lisa, from South Korean group Blackpink, performs in Bangkok in December, 2024 (Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP via Getty Images)
FIFA will then also pay tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4, as a way to align the World Cup with America’s Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Two round of 16 games — one in Philadelphia and one in Houston — are scheduled to take place on July 4 and each will have a 250th-themed tribute ahead of the game, but it remains to be seen how, exactly, FIFA will tell the story of America’s history.
Since returning to power, President Donald Trump has taken several steps to ramp up celebrations for ‘America 250′ and encouraged sports to align with both his politics and the celebration. This included the establishment of the White House Task Force 250, which is also chaired by Trump and includes representation from cabinet members.
Trump then launched Freedom 250 and announced a national prayer event, “to rededicate (America) as one nation under God”, as well as a UFC event at the White House and the inaugural Patriot Games — a four-day athletic event involving one male and one female high school athlete from each U.S. state and territory.
Last year, The Athletic revealed that the FIFA World Cup 2026 White House Task Force, chaired by Trump and directed by Andrew Giuliani, had facilitated a proposal for World Cup host cities in the United States to house vast ‘Freedom’ trailer-trucks with United States flags at official Fan Festivals in celebration of Freedom 250.
In an interview with The Athletic in December, Giuliani described the World Cup as “an incredible opportunity to show off” America’s first 250 years.
He said: “President Trump, more than anything, represents the fact that, as Americans, we don’t have to apologize anymore for whatever imperfections may exist in our country’s history. We can look at the overall work of the last 250 years and what America has done for Western civilization, and truly celebrate that American greatness.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino dons a USA hat at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in February (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
FIFA has already demonstrated deference towards Trump, most famously when FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded the U.S. president its inaugural Peace Prize in December.
FIFA president Infantino also attended Trump’s pre-inauguration rally, his inauguration, and joined the U.S. president on visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia in May. He later joined meetings of Trump’s Board of Peace, where he wore a red hat with ‘USA’ on the front and the numbers ‘45-47’ — a reference to Trump’s non-consecutive presidencies.
FIFA will also hold an opening ceremony and a half-time show at MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final on July 19, with the identity of the performers so far kept under wraps.
The FIFA World Cup album will also feature a single called Illuminate, which is a collaboration between Jessie Reyez and Elyanna, as well as Por Ella, a single by Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda.
