The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened unlike any tournament before it. Instead of a single host-city celebration, FIFA launched an ambitious three-part opening ceremony across Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles, creating a continent-spanning showcase of music, culture, and sport.
With performances ranging from orchestral grandeur to global pop spectacle, the ceremonies delivered several memorable moments. Here are the five performances that stood out the most.
5. Shakira & Burna Boy (“Dai Dai”)
Shakira and Burna Boy arrived with perhaps the highest expectations of the entire opening ceremony lineup. The pairing of one of the World Cup’s most recognizable musical figures with one of Africa’s biggest stars promised something special.
Visually, the performance delivered. Rich staging, colorful production elements, and carefully crafted choreography created a vibrant celebration of football’s global reach. Burna Boy brought his trademark confidence and smooth delivery, anchoring the collaboration with ease.
Shakira remained charismatic throughout, but the performance never fully reached the explosive heights associated with her previous World Cup appearances. While polished and enjoyable, it lacked the sense of unpredictability and raw energy that helped make songs like “Waka Waka” and “La La La” cultural landmarks. Even so, it was a strong addition to the opening festivities and a fitting tribute to the tournament’s international spirit.
4. Alessia Cara (“Wild Things”)
Not every World Cup performance needs fireworks and elaborate choreography.
Alessia Cara proved that a powerful voice can be just as effective as a stadium-sized production. In one of the ceremony’s most understated moments, the Canadian singer delivered a performance built almost entirely around her vocal ability. Her tone remained flawless from start to finish, effortlessly filling the venue without relying on excessive visual distractions.
Sometimes simplicity becomes a statement of its own, and Cara’s performance did exactly that.
3. Katy Perry (“Wonder”)
Katy Perry reminded audiences why she remains one of the defining pop performers of her generation.
The Los Angeles ceremony gave Perry one of the evening’s biggest stages, and she responded with commanding vocals, polished showmanship, and a performance that balanced spectacle with genuine emotion.
What elevated the performance beyond standard pop-star excellence was its closing sequence. Ten-year-old Tius Luka, who appears on the original recording, joined Perry on stage for the finale.
That moment transformed the performance from entertaining to memorable. The image of Perry and Luka closing the show together captured the optimism, ambition, and sense of possibility that sits at the heart of the World Cup experience.
2. Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta & EJAE (“DNA”)
One of the ceremony’s most ambitious creative decisions came through the unlikely collaboration between Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, and Oscar-winning artist EJAE.
Just like the individual sets from Cara and Perry, the performance prioritized vocal excellence over spectacle. Bocelli’s legendary voice brought elegance and emotional depth, while EJAE matched him with a powerful and emotionally resonant performance of her own. Together, they delivered a duet that felt grand and captivating without ever tipping into excess.
1. LISA, Anitta & Rema (“Goals”)
No performance captured the spirit of the 2026 World Cup better than LISA, Anitta, and Rema.
From the opening seconds, the trio delivered exactly what a modern World Cup ceremony requires: energy, charisma, chemistry, and unforgettable stage presence. LISA opened the performance with impressive live vocals and the confidence that has made her one of the world’s biggest stars.
Anitta matched that intensity throughout, bringing her trademark charisma and commanding the stadium whenever she took center stage. Rema completed the formula, effortlessly delivering his verses.
What separated this set from the rest was the chemistry between the artists. LISA and Anitta, in particular, looked completely comfortable sharing the stage, creating moments that felt spontaneous rather than scripted.
The staging amplified everything. High-energy choreography, massive visuals, and the celebratory atmosphere surrounding “Goals” combined to create a performance that felt tailor-made for football’s biggest stage. It felt like the official launch of the tournament itself.
Photo: FIFA/YouTube
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