World Cup
Canada seeks to raise soccer profile and league growth with 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup offers a chance to drive soccer into Canada’s mainstream, boost commercial revenues and elevate the Canadian Premier League, said James Johnson, commissioner of the country’s top-tier domestic competition.
The tournament – the first edition of the global showpiece to feature 48 teams – will be co-hosted by Canada, alongside the United States and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19.
“Like any World Cup, there is always a big opportunity to grow the sport and grow the business of the sport,” Johnson, who is also the Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Business, told Reuters in an interview.
“Canada, for the first time in our history, will co-host the 2026 World Cup. From our perspective, we see an opportunity to break the sport into the mainstream, to really grow commercial revenues, and ultimately to put the Canadian Premier League at the very centre of the Canadian sports agenda.”
Canada will appear at the men’s World Cup for a third time, following previous appearances in 1986 and 2022.
Coached by American Jesse Marsch, their squad includes Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies, the team’s captain, and Juventus forward Jonathan David.
“We’ve got two great national teams, the men’s and the women’s. We’ve got players playing at big clubs and in top leagues around the world,” Johnson said.
The Canadian Premier League was founded in 2017 and played its first season in 2019. Johnson believes the league is now entering a more mature phase.
“We have a new league, a relatively new league, that is maturing in the Canadian Premier League, developing great players for the national teams and for big clubs around the world,” he said.
“All the right ingredients are there. It’s about bringing those ingredients together and making magic happen. That’s what we’re focused on doing as we co-host a World Cup.”
The Canadian Premier League has also positioned itself at the forefront of innovation. In April, a goal scored under soccer’s experimental “daylight” offside rule was allowed for the first time in a professional match.
The concept, long advocated by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his role as FIFA’s head of global football development, is now being assessed in Canada as a potential future change to the laws of the game.
“What we’re doing with FIFA and Wenger is something new. It’s innovative. We think it’s great for the sport,” Johnson added.
“It’s created a lot of debate, both around video football support and the daylight rule, and that’s a good thing. We see our role as creating interest in our league.
“We want more discussion in Canada, but we also want to be part of a global conversation that is driving the sport forward. We think we’re doing that through the implementation of these new rules.”
-Reuters
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The United States will stage a star-studded and entertainment-driven opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June, as football’s biggest tournament officially takes centre stage across North America.
FIFA announced that the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium will feature some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla, with more international performers expected to be announced in the coming months.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off, is expected to deliver a high-energy showcase reflecting the diversity, entertainment culture and global influence of the United States, particularly the creative spirit of Los Angeles, widely regarded as the entertainment capital of the world.
According to FIFA, the Los Angeles spectacle will form part of an unprecedented trilogy of opening ceremonies spread across the three co-host nations: Mexico, Canada and the United States — creating what organisers described as one continental celebration united by “a shared heartbeat.”
Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremony will combine large-scale visuals, immersive storytelling and live performances centred around the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy and the cultural identity of the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the Los Angeles ceremony would underline the scale and global reach of the expanded tournament.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” Infantino said.
“The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture.”
Fans attending the event have been encouraged to arrive early, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off to allow supporters to participate in activations, entertainment experiences, live pre-match programmes and interactive fan activities.
The ceremony will precede the United States’ opening match against Paraguay in what promises to be one of the biggest sporting and entertainment events of the year.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, will be played across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, beginning in Mexico City on 11 June before concluding with the final at New York-New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
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World Cup
June 12 Comes Alive as Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé Lead Canada’s World Cup Opening Celebration in Toronto
Canada will officially welcome the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a star-studded opening ceremony in Toronto on Friday, 12 June, showcasing the country’s diversity, multicultural identity and growing football culture.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off at Toronto Stadium, will feature performances from leading international and Canadian music stars, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
FIFA said the event would celebrate the energy and diversity of the tournament while connecting fans in Toronto to festivities taking place across the three host nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Canadian ceremony will revolve around a unique artistic interpretation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy as a mosaic, symbolising the country’s many cultures, communities and people. The production is being organised in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, which is overseeing the creative vision for the opening ceremonies across all three host countries.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a reflection of Canada’s identity and football ambitions.
“The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity and the energy surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “Through music, culture and unforgettable performances, we will welcome the world with a celebration that is uniquely Canadian while also connected to a larger story unfolding across Mexico and the United States.”
According to FIFA, the ceremony will begin with a visual and musical journey across Canada, highlighting moments and communities from coast to coast to coast as anticipation builds towards kick-off.
Supporters attending the event will also play an interactive role in the celebration, with stadium gates opening four hours before the match to provide access to fan activities, entertainment, rewards and special pre-match experiences.
The ceremony will precede a landmark occasion for Canadian football as Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match on home soil.
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the final scheduled for 19 July at New York /New Jersey Stadium.
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Mexico will launch the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a spectacular opening ceremony designed to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage, musical diversity and artistic traditions before the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City on 11 June.
FIFA announced that the ceremony at the historic Mexico City Stadium will begin 90 minutes before kick-off and feature an array of international and Mexican music stars, including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
The ceremony is expected to blend modern entertainment with traditional Mexican artistry, placing indigenous talent and folkloric performers at the centre of the production. FIFA said the creative theme for the Mexican ceremony will revolve around the traditional art of “papel picado”, symbolising celebration, craftsmanship and national identity.
The event forms part of a trilogy of opening ceremonies that will also continue in Toronto and Los Angeles as the three host nations jointly stage football’s biggest spectacle for the first time.
Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremonies will share a unified creative concept centred on reimagining the FIFA World Cup Trophy through the cultural lens of each host country.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the ceremonies as a symbol of unity and diversity.
“The FIFA World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it,” Infantino said. “Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.”
Fans attending the opening match are expected to play an active role in the festivities, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off to allow supporters access to entertainment activities, fan activations and pre-match experiences.
The opening game of the tournament will see Mexico take on South Africa in what will also mark a historic occasion for the Mexico City venue, which becomes the first stadium ever to host matches at three different FIFA World Cups.
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, culminating in the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
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