The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off in Toronto, Canada, with a star-studded opening ceremony that brought together global talent. The event marked the beginning of the tournament's co-hosting stint by Canada alongside the USA and Mexico.
Alexandria-based singer Alessia Cara took to the stage first, performing her hit single 'Wild Things' amidst elaborate dancers waving flags and art pieces representing Canadian wildlife. Her performance was followed by Nora Fatehi, DJ Sanjoy, and rapper Vegedream, who performed the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album track 'Siir', with Elyanna and Jessie Reyez taking centre stage afterwards.
The ceremony continued with Alanis Morissette singing the Canadian national anthem, 'O Canada', before being accompanied by Yugoslavia's Aleksandar Gajić on violin for Bosnia and Herzegovina's national anthem. The grand finale featured Michael Bublé closing out the show with his rendition of Sam Cooke's 'Bring It On Home to Me'.
Meanwhile, opening ceremonies took place in Mexico (hosted by Shakira, Burna Boy, and J Balvin) and the US (featuring Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa, Rema, and Tyla). The events have drawn significant international attention and will undoubtedly be a key focus for global sports fans.
The FIFA World Cup is expected to generate substantial revenue from sponsorships, merchandise sales, and broadcasting rights. This influx of funds could potentially contribute positively to the host countries' economies, although specific figures are yet to be released.