The 2026 World Cup spotlight has arrived in Canada, marked by an opening ceremony featuring Canadian music artists Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. Fans gathered in a sea of red ahead of the first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with some breaking into an impromptu rendition of the national anthem, O Canada, as they entered Toronto Stadium.
This event followed an earlier opening ceremony in Mexico City on Thursday, which included performances by Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The first US game, held later on Friday in Los Angeles, was set to feature artists such as Katy Perry and Atlanta rapper Future. The 2026 tournament is being hosted across all three countries and is anticipated to be the largest ever, with 48 nations competing.
Peter Giacobbe, a Toronto native, expressed his excitement, stating, “We’ve very excited. This is a long time coming.” He is attending Canada’s games in both Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s second host city, alongside his friend Robert McIntosh. McIntosh added, “We woke up this morning realising that this is making Canadian history together.”
Fans of the Bosnian national team also showed enthusiasm, with hundreds arriving at the stadium in a separate march. Some Bosnian fans mentioned travelling from their home country to witness their team play in the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Others, like Bosnian-Canadian Layla Mesic, were closer to home. Mesic, who attended with her Canadian mother, proudly wore traditional yellow and blue, stating, “To even qualify to the World Cup, it’s a big point of pride of us. Today I’m 100% Bosnian.” She described the experience as once-in-a-lifetime, despite the cost.
Opening Ceremony Performances and Fan Experience
Morissette performed the national anthem to a cheering crowd. Bublé, accompanied by a choir, led fans in a rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me.” Other performers at Canada’s opening ceremony included Canadian singer Alessia Cara, Palestinian singer-songwriter Elyanna, and Toronto natives Jessie Reyes and Nora Fatehi. William Prince, an indigenous artist from Manitoba, also performed. Organisers indicated that the selection of performers was inspired by Canada’s diverse communities.
Before the match, an announcer in Toronto Stadium requested the crowd to join in a round of applause for peace. Across the street from the stadium, hundreds of fans gathered at the Toronto Fan Zone, where tickets for entry were free on a first-come, first-serve basis. Angela Aco, a Torontonian attending the fan zone, noted that obtaining tickets for the actual game “wasn’t even a consideration for us” due to the high cost. Despite heavier-than-normal traffic, she found the experience positive, enjoying the presence of people from various places. Aco highlighted Bublé’s performance as her favourite part of the opening ceremony.
Later in the day, the match between the US and Paraguay in Los Angeles was set to feature performances by Katy Perry, Future, Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta, Blackpink alumna and actress LISA, and Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla.
Match Outcome and Tournament Details
In their third-ever World Cup campaign, Canada secured a point against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Cyle Larin scored the equaliser for Canada, securing their first-ever point at a World Cup finals. Jovo Lukic had previously given Bosnia the lead.
The FIFA is also planning a closing ceremony, which will include its first-ever halftime show in its nearly 100-year history, modelled after similar spectacles at the Super Bowl. Headliners for this event are expected to include Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Madonna, and Shakira. The final game of the tournament will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
