New York: The day has finally arrived for the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that adds a new chapter to the prestigious 96-year history of the competition. Before the excitement of the matches begins, football fans around the world will be treated to not one, but three grand opening ceremonies.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off today (12:30 am IST after midnight), and for the first time in the tournament’s history, 48 national teams will participate. In another first, three countries will jointly host football’s biggest event.
Spectacular Performances by Shakira and Nora Fatehi
The United States, Canada and Mexico are the three host nations of this World Cup, and each country will stage an opening ceremony 90 minutes before its first match of the tournament.
The list of performers includes world-famous pop star Shakira, Indian actress Nora Fatehi, Burna Boy, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs and several other renowned stage artists. Nora Fatehi will perform in the opening ceremony in Toronto, Canada—her hometown—scheduled for tomorrow (11:00 pm IST). She is set to enthrall the audience with her stunning appearance and energetic dance moves on the song “Sar… Sar…”.
Shakira and other artists will light up the stage with performances on “Dai Dai…” and other musical acts.
Opening Ceremonies Scheduled 90 Minutes Before the Matches
(1) According to Indian time, the opening match of the World Cup will be played today (12:30 am IST after midnight) between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City. The grand opening ceremony will begin 90 minutes earlier, at 11:00 pm IST, featuring a spectacular show lasting 16 minutes and 30 seconds.
(2) Canada’s first match, against Bosnia, will be played in Toronto on Friday (12:30 am IST after midnight). Therefore, Toronto’s opening ceremony will begin at 11:00 pm IST on Friday and will last 13 minutes.
(3) The United States will play its opening match against Paraguay in California on Saturday (6:30 am IST). Accordingly, the 13-minute opening ceremony there will commence at 5:00 am IST.
Also Read: FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: Beyond A Tournament
