The FIFA World Cup 2026 celebrations continued in grand style as global music stars Katy Perry, Lisa and Future headlined a spectacular opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday.
The event was one of three opening ceremonies organized for the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The show brought together music, entertainment and football as fans prepared for the United States' opening match against Paraguay.
Katy Perry Delivers Emotional Performance
Katy Perry was among the biggest attractions of the evening. The pop superstar captivated the crowd with a heartfelt performance of her song Wonder shortly before kickoff. Her appearance officially launched the United States leg of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Around 10 minutes before the match began, Perry walked onto the stage alongside Tius Luka, who recorded the song with her in 2021 when he was just five years old.
The performance opened with Perry holding Luka's hand while the young singer delivered the opening lines of the song. The emotional moment received a warm response from fans inside the stadium.
In addition to her performance, Perry also attracted attention for her eye-catching silver outfit. The sparkling dress featured a dramatic flared design around the waist and quickly became a talking point on social media.
Lisa Brings K-Pop Flair to the World Cup
Meanwhile, K-pop star Lisa added excitement and energy to the celebrations. The BLACKPINK member took the stage alongside a group of dancers dressed in coordinated sports-themed outfits. Wearing a white corset, matching shorts and boots, Lisa delivered a lively performance that thrilled the crowd.
She later joined Brazilian singer Anitta and Nigerian music star Rema for a performance of Goals, one of the songs featured on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album.
The trio's performance added an international flavour to the ceremony and highlighted the global appeal of the tournament.
Future and Tyla Perform Official World Cup Track
Rapper Future and South African singer Tyla also entertained fans during the opening show. The duo performed Game Time, the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song, bringing high energy and excitement to SoFi Stadium.
Their performance became one of the standout moments of the evening as fans sang and danced along.
World Cup Celebrations Across North America
The Los Angeles ceremony formed part of FIFA's wider celebrations across North America. The tournament officially began on June 11 with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.
The first opening ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca and featured performances by Shakira and Burna Boy. The pair delivered the first live performance of Dai Dai, the official anthem of FIFA World Cup 2026.
A second ceremony followed in Toronto, where artists including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé and Bollywood star Nora Fatehi entertained fans before Canada's opening match.
Biggest World Cup in History
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition of the tournament ever staged. For the first time, 48 national teams are competing for football's biggest prize across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The month-long tournament will conclude with the final on July 19, bringing an end to one of the most ambitious World Cup events in history.