Lyrical Muse

The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially arrived in the United States with a star powered opening ceremony in Los Angeles, where some of the biggest names in global music transformed the tournament’s opening night into a celebration of culture and collaboration.

Held at Los Angeles Stadium ahead of the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12, the ceremony placed music firmly at the heart of one of football’s biggest stages. Katy Perry led the lineup alongside Future, LISA, Anitta, Rema and Tyla, reflecting the tournament’s international spirit through a mix of pop, hip-hop, Afrobeats and K-pop.

Future and Tyla opened the celebrations with their official FIFA World Cup anthem “Game Time,” setting the tone 90 minutes before kick-off. LISA, Anitta and Rema followed with a high energy performance of “Goals,” another standout track from the official World Cup album that united artists from three different continents on one stage.

Perry closed the musical program with the live debut of “Wonder,” joined by 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tius Luka. Surrounded by the flags of all 48 competing nations during the traditional Parade of Nations, the performance underscored the tournament’s message of unity before the focus shifted to football.

Ahead of the ceremony, FIFA President Gianni Infantino described it as a defining moment for the competition, saying the artist lineup reflects “the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas,” while highlighting music’s ability to bring people together across borders.

The evening also featured performances of the national anthems, with Paraguayan duo Purahei Soul singing Paraguay’s anthem before country stars Dan + Shay delivered “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Los Angeles event completed FIFA’s unprecedented trio of opening ceremonies across the three host nations, following celebrations in Mexico City and Toronto. While each city showcased its own musical identity, Los Angeles leaned into its reputation as the entertainment capital, bringing together internationally recognized artists to launch the tournament before the United States secured a 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

With more than 100 matches still to come, the opening ceremony set an ambitious standard for how music and football can share the global spotlight throughout FIFA World Cup 2026.

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