Mexico leads historic third FIFA World Cup with triple opening ceremonies

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will open with three separate ceremonies, a first in tournament history. Mexico kicks off on 11 June at the Estadio Ciudad de México with a match against South Africa, featuring performances by Shakira, J Balvin, Maná, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Los Ángeles Azules, Lila Downs and the official song “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy. Canada follows on 12 June in Toronto, showcasing Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Michael Bublé, Jessie Reyez and William Prince, while the United States holds its ceremony the same evening in Los Ángeles with Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla.

Human‑rights groups and the mothers of the disappeared warn the tournament may be used to obscure Mexico’s ongoing crisis of forced disappearances, noting the removal of memorials in Guadalajara and the risk of “re‑disappearance” of victims from public memory.

Brands are also capitalising on the event. Adidas has reopened its flagship Brand Center on Avenida Masaryk in Mexico City, turning the store into an immersive football‑themed experience with national team collections, customisation labs and artworks by Mexican artists, underscoring the commercial dimension of the World Cup.