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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United States President Donald Trump has joined growing criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that he personally would not pay the current rates being charged for the U.S. national team’s opening match against Paraguay.

According to a report by The Athletic, ticket sales for the United States’ opening game at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles have lagged behind expectations, with fans complaining about the high cost of attendance.

The publication previously revealed that the cheapest tickets in FIFA’s three main categories for the match initially sold for as much as $1,120.

Responding during an interview with the New York Post, Trump said he was unaware of the exact figures but sympathised with supporters priced out of the event.

“I did not know that number,” Trump said. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”

The comments are significant given Trump’s close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has repeatedly defended FIFA’s pricing structure ahead of the tournament to be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking earlier this week at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino argued that the prices reflect the American entertainment market.

“In reality, 25 per cent of group stage tickets are available for less than $300,” Infantino said, according to The Athletic.

“In the U.S., you can’t attend a college game, let alone a top-tier professional event, for under $300. And this is the World Cup.”

Infantino also defended the pricing policy as protection against ticket scalping, noting that tickets sold too cheaply would likely be resold at inflated prices.

Despite expressing concern over affordability, Trump acknowledged that ticket sales overall had been a major commercial success.

“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go,” Trump said.

“I know that is extremely successful. Setting every record in the book. They’ve never had anything like it.”

The controversy has also attracted political attention in the United States. According to The Athletic, Congressman Frank Pallone and Representative Nellie Pou sent a letter to Infantino questioning FIFA’s pricing strategy and accusing the organisation of potentially unfair ticketing practices.

The lawmakers argued that ticket prices were being “held artificially high” despite fluctuations in market demand and called for greater transparency from FIFA.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, is expected to be the biggest and most commercially lucrative edition in the tournament’s history.

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