World Cup Desk – The traditional single opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup is a thing of the past. For the first time in the tournament’s 96-year history, three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—are co-hosting the mega event.
Consequently, the world will witness three separate opening ceremonies lighting up the globe across three iconic cities: Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
Here is everything you need to know about the schedules, times (in Bangladesh Standard Time – BST), and star-studded line-ups for the World Cup opening ceremonies.
1. Mexico City Opening Ceremony (Mexico)
The historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is all set to kick off the World Cup. Host Mexico will face South Africa in the tournament’s opening match.
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Ceremony Time: Tonight at 11:00 PM (BST) (90 minutes before kick-off).
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Match Time: Tonight at 1:00 AM (BST).
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Duration: 16 to 17 minutes.
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What to Expect: The ceremony will celebrate Mexico’s rich heritage, showcasing indigenous artists, folklore performances, and traditional ‘Papel Picado’ paper art.
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Key Performers: Pop sensation Shakira will light up the stage by performing the official World Cup song ‘Dai Dai’ (Let’s Go) alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy. Other performers include Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and South African singer Tyla.
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Fun Fact: To celebrate the historic day, Mexico’s Prime Minister Claudia Sheinbaum has declared a public holiday, closing schools and directing government employees to work from home.
2. Toronto Opening Ceremony (Canada)
Canada will host its first-ever World Cup match at the Toronto Stadium tomorrow night, where the hosts will lock horns with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Ceremony Time: Tomorrow (Friday) night at 11:30 PM (BST).
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Match Time: Tomorrow (Friday) night at 1:00 AM (BST).
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Duration: Around 13 minutes.
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What to Expect: The event will begin with a dramatic countdown, followed by a visual narrative highlighting Canada’s proudest historical moments.
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Key Performers: The stage will be graced by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Vegedream, William Prince, and Bangladeshi-origin artist Sanjay.
3. Los Angeles Opening Ceremony (USA)
To watch the US leg of the opening ceremony, fans in Bangladesh will need to wake up early on Saturday morning as the hosts take on Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium.
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Ceremony Time: Saturday morning at 5:30 AM (BST).
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Match Time: Saturday morning at 7:00 AM (BST).
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Duration: Around 13 minutes.
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What to Expect: A massive theatrical production featuring large-scale visual projections and a compelling storytelling narrative.
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Key Performers: A blockbuster lineup including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa (BLACKPINK), Rema, and Tyla.
The Creative Genius Behind the Shows
All three opening ceremonies are being produced by Marco Balich, the creative mastermind behind several iconic Olympic opening ceremonies. While each city will reflect its unique local culture, Balich has integrated a single, unifying theme across all three shows: the unique power of football to unite people, bridging all divides.