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What happened, and who performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?

performed at the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony? A star-studded performance headlined by popstars

World Cup opening ceremony: Who’s performing, when it starts, how to watch

World Cup opening ceremony: Who’s performing, when it starts, how to watch The [2026

Fan festivals, Panini, tickets: What are FIFA World Cup fans talking about?

2026 tournament. But she has not been named among the opening ceremony performers. ![INTERACTIVE-Football FIFA Teams that have qualified for the World Cup

World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, local performers and vibrant fans

performers and vibrant fans The 2026 World Cup has begun in Mexico City with an opening ceremony

Mexico vs South Africa: World Cup 2026 opening game – teams, start, lineups

2026 World Cup is the biggest in the sport’s history, and the first to be held in three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Exactly 90 minutes before kickoff, an [opening ceremony](/sports/2026/6/9/world-cup-opening-ceremony-whos-performing-when-it-starts-how-to-watch

Shakira returns to official World Cup song duty, this time with Burna Boy

2026 World Cup: North America](https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-98388/2026-world-cup-north-america) ### [Soccer was once considered niche in the U.S. Then came the 1994 World Cup](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/09/nx-s1-5795791/2026-history-soccer-fifa-world-cup-fans) One early, seminal example is Ricky Martin's "La Copa

World Cup Day 1: Schedule, predictions, opening ceremony and what to watch

2026](/fifa-world-cup-2026) starts on Thursday, kicking off the biggest tournament in football history across the United States, Canada and Mexico. A record 48 teams will play 104 matches over the next six weeks, with millions

These fans are boycotting the World Cup. Will they make it a bust?

ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5, 2025.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3403x3403+849+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2Fb2%2Fe79c34774d11a28b917050afb0ea%2Fgettyimages-2250186867-1.jpg)](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5770564/fifa-world-cup-ticket-prices) ### [2026 World Cup: North America](https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-98388/2026-world-cup-north-america) ### [FIFA hikes World Cup prices

FIFA World Cup 2026 talking points: NFL-style half-time show, kits and more

performed at the 2025 Club World Cup, returns for the 2026 World Cup final’s half-time show [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters] ## The beautiful kits The hype around the World Cup this year first started when

From near death to World Cup hero - Jimenez's tears for Mexico

2026 World Cup. Jimenez, who had connected with Roberto Alvarado's right-wing cross to score his country's second goal, leapt high, celebrated wildly and then pointed to the sky - seemingly in tribute

Which World Cup 2026 stadiums will host matches in US, Canada and Mexico?

2026 FIFA World Cup matches, in Houston, Dec. 28, 2025. The Astrodome is pictured on right. (AP Photo/Jon Shapley)](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AP26035000226133-1772177362.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80) Houston Stadium hosted Super Bowls in 2004 and 2017 [File: Jon Shapley/AP Photo

Mexico braces for celebrations, protests as World Cup opens amid tensions

ceremony, with protesters effectively blocking off access to the plaza set to host the country’s main fan celebrations. Mexico, jointly hosting the global tournament with the United States and Canada, kicks off festivities

How the 1994 World Cup kicked off America's love affair with soccer

ceremony held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5, 2025.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3403x3403+849+0/resize/100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2Fb2%2Fe79c34774d11a28b917050afb0ea%2Fgettyimages-2250186867-1.jpg)](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5770564/fifa-world-cup-ticket-prices) ### [2026 World Cup: North America](https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-98388/2026-world-cup-north-america) ### [FIFA hikes World Cup prices

Why the economics makes this the craziest world cup ever

ceremony at the Estadio Azteca, and the final in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, the three will be renegotiating the USMCA, the North American free trade area. Donald Trump is extremely focused on the tournament