The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost at its end, and the global football spectacle is gearing up for a grand opening unlike any seen before.

This edition of the tournament makes history as the first to be jointly hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — each bringing its own cultural flair and home advantage to the world’s biggest football event.

With three host countries, fans will witness three separate opening ceremonies, each preceding the host nation’s first match. The events will feature world-famous artists and performers, designed to capture the spirit and scale of football’s greatest celebration.

All three ceremonies are being produced by the acclaimed Italian event creator Marco Balich, who previously directed the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

The festivities begin in Mexico, where the first opening ceremony will take place at 6:30pm BST on Thursday, 11 June in Mexico City.

Hosted at the iconic Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Stadium, the spectacle will precede the Group A match between Mexico and South Africa — a nostalgic rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener held in Johannesburg.

Global superstars Shakira and Burna Boy are set to headline the event, performing the official tournament anthem titled Dai Dai.

The performance lineup also includes Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla.

The celebrations then move north to Toronto, where Canada’s opening ceremony will take place at 6:30pm BST on Friday, 12 June at BMO Field, before Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Canadian legend Michael Bublé will headline the show, supported by Alessia Cara and Alanis Morissette, among others.

Palestinian singer Elyanna will also take the stage, along with French artist Vegedream, famous for his 2018 World Cup anthem celebrating France’s victory.

Other notable performers include Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, and William Prince.

The final ceremony will be held in Los Angeles, where the United States will host its grand opening event at 12:30am BST on Saturday, 13 June, ahead of the USA’s first match against Paraguay. The celebration will unfold at the ultra-modern SoFi Stadium, one of the newest venues in this year’s tournament.

Pop icon Katy Perry will headline the American ceremony in her home state, joined by rapper Future.

Tyla will make a second appearance following her performance in Mexico, sharing the stage with Thai superstar Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink, Nigerian artist Rema, and Brazilian singer Anitta.

The United States has a rich history of memorable World Cup opening moments, including Diana Ross’s unforgettable missed penalty at the 1994 World Cup in Chicago — a moment still fondly remembered by fans worldwide.