FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony LIVE: Katy Perry headlines star-studded US spectacle at SoFi Stadium

Christian Pulisic remains the focal point of the United States team as they prepare for their opening match. The 27-year-old has carried the burden of being the face of American football for over a decade, having made his senior debut at just 17. Despite the constant scrutiny, Pulisic has stayed calm under pressure. He recently ended an 18-month goal drought for the USMNT on May 31 and will be expected to deliver once again when the Stars and Stripes kick off their campaign.

SoFi Stadium, officially known as Los Angeles Stadium for the FIFA World Cup, is the newest venue hosting matches in this edition. Opened in September 2020, the state-of-the-art arena is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Despite its young age, it has already hosted major concerts by artists like Taylor Swift, BTS and Ed Sheeran. Located near the historic Rose Bowl, which staged the 1994 World Cup final, SoFi is now set to welcome the world for the United States’ opening ceremony and match.

American supporters are out in full force near SoFi Stadium. Fans have been gathering on the streets for hours, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere in Inglewood well before the opening ceremony and kickoff. The excitement is clearly building as the United States prepares to host its World Cup opener.

The United States opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, June 12/ 5:00 AM IST on Saturday, June 13, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Katy Perry is set to headline the show, joined by Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. The star-studded performance will take place 90 minutes before the USA’s opening match against Paraguay.

Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at BMO Field. Bosnia took the lead in the 21st minute through Jovo Lukić’s header, but Cyle Larin equalized for the hosts in the 78th minute. Canada showed resilience in front of a passionate home crowd but had to settle for a point in their historic opening match.

The Canadian men’s national team steps onto the pitch at BMO Field for warm-ups, greeted by loud cheers from the home crowd in Toronto. With kickoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina less than an hour away, the atmosphere inside the stadium is building rapidly as Canada prepares for its historic first World Cup match on home soil.

Jessie Reyez and Elyanna take the stage during Canada’s opening ceremony at BMO Field. The duo delivers powerful and emotional performances, adding soul and intensity. Reyez and Elyanna perform “Illuminate,” another official song of the FIFA World Cup 2026, during Canada’s opening ceremony at BMO Field. The Canadian and Palestinian singers deliver the track live to the Toronto crowd as part of the ceremony’s artistic segment.

The singers began by performing, 'Siir Siir,' an official 2026 World Cup song inspired by a chant from Moroccan soccer fans during the in Qatar WC 2022.

Nora Fatehi, Vegedream and Sanjoy have taken the stage during Canada’s opening ceremony at BMO Field. The trio delivers high-energy performances that bring a global and multicultural flavour to the show, keeping the Toronto crowd engaged as the artistic segment continued to build momentum.

Canada’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony has officially begun at BMO Field in Toronto. The show opens with a powerful tribute to the country’s Indigenous peoples and roots, followed by a symbolic visual journey across Canada - from coast to coast to coast. The artistic segment is now in full flow, setting the stage for the major musical performances still to come.

Bosnia and Herzegovina supporters have shown up in strong numbers in Toronto. Despite it being Canada’s first home World Cup match, the streets around BMO Field are filled with a noticeable presence of fans in blue jerseys, standing alongside the sea of Canadian red. The mix of colours has created a vibrant and respectful atmosphere as both sets of supporters gather for the second game of the tournament.

Canada’s pre-match fan march is turning heads in Toronto. Thousands of supporters have taken over the streets, waving Canadian flags and creating an electric atmosphere as the country hosts a World Cup match for the first time. The scenes look incredible, with fans celebrating this landmark moment ahead of Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The energy outside BMO Field is already at fever pitch.

June 12 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – Toronto, 3 PM ET

June 18 vs Qatar – Vancouver, 6 PM ET

June 23 vs Switzerland – Vancouver, 3 PM ET

Shakira made history by performing at a FIFA World Cup for the fourth time as she headlined Mexico’s opening ceremony on June 11. She joined Burna Boy to perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 tournament. The star-studded show also featured performances from Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, and Lila Downs. Grammy-winning singer Alejandro Fernández delivered the Mexican national anthem, while Tyla sang South Africa’s national anthem ahead of their Group A clash.

“The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity."

In Los Angeles, Katy Perry, Future and Anitta are set to light up SoFi Stadium with a high-energy global showcase. Adding to the buzz, Tyla is expected to perform for the second straight day after delivering the South African national anthem in Mexico’s opening ceremony yesterday.

Alanis Morissette, Jessie Reyez and Michael Bublé will headline the musical lineup at BMO Field as Canada gets ready for its historic home World Cup opener. Nora Fatehi and William Prince, Palestinian singer Elyanna, Bangladeshi-American DJ Sanjoy and French singer Vegedream are also in the lineup.

US: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish), streaming on Peacock, Tubi and others.

Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS.

India: Unite8 channel, ZEE5 app and website.

The two opening ceremonies will start 90 minutes before kickoff time. The Canada opening ceremony will begin at 11:00 PM IST/ 1:30 PM ET on Friday, June 12, at BMO Field in Toronto.

The United States opening ceremony will follow later and start at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, June 12/ 5:00 AM IST on Saturday, June 13, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the opening ceremonies in Canada and the US. We are tracking every moment, every anthem, every standout performance and the atmosphere shift as the real football begins.