The FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada delivered not one, not two, but three spectacular opening ceremonies to celebrate the tournament’s unprecedented scale. Following Mexico City’s vibrant kickoff on June 11, the USA hosted its highly anticipated ceremony on the evening of June 12 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, just before the U.S. Men’s National Team took on Paraguay.
Bringing together an international roster of music superstars, the event featured powerhouse performances from Katy Perry and BLACKPINK’s Lisa, alongside Future, Tyla, Brazilian sensation Anitta, and Nigerian star Rema.
Lisa Kicks Off the Ceremony in Stunning White
The South Korean rapper and singer opened the American ceremony, immediately drawing attention with a striking all-white ensemble consisting of a form-fitting corset, high-waisted shorts, and matching boots. As the first K-pop act to perform at a standalone U.S. World Cup opening ceremony, Lisa delivered a high-energy performance of “Goals,” one of the tracks from the official 2026 World Cup album.
Surrounded by dancers in sporty costumes, Lisa moved across a stage decorated with iconic Los Angeles landmarks like surfboards, palm trees, and a replica of the Santa Monica Ferris wheel. She was soon joined by Anitta and Rema for the collaborative track, turning up the heat in the 70,000-seat stadium.
The performance drew loud cheers from the crowd, which included a star-studded audience featuring Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Halle Berry, and Paris Hilton.
Katy Perry Delivers an Emotional Finale
While the first half of the ceremony leaned into high-energy hip-hop and pop, pop icon Katy Perry took center stage as the closing act, opting for a slower, more sentimental moment rather than a medley of greatest hits.
Dressed in a sculptural silver and metallic fringe gown by Stella McCartney, the 41-year-old singer performed “Wonder,” an emotional track from her 2024 album “143.” For the first live rendition of the song, Perry was joined on stage by Norwegian vocalist Tius Luka, a young boy whose voice was recorded for the track when he was just five years old. Now 10, Tius flew from Norway to share the stage with Perry, making for a touching visual.
Perry was also spotted wearing a small pin bearing the Canadian flag during the event, which raised eyebrows given her recent public romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Divided Reactions to the Pop Star’s Set
While the production value of the ceremony was widely praised, fans on social media were sharply divided over Katy Perry’s vocal delivery. Some viewers criticized the performance as underwhelming, with one user writing, “Katy Perry is screeching like are her in-ears not working,” while another commented that she “sounded terrible.”
Others, however, defended the singer, noting the difficulty of performing live in an open-air stadium environment. Despite the mixed reviews, Perry’s inclusion capped off a lineup designed to showcase the cultural diversity and entertainment muscle of the host nation ahead of the USA’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
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