By Eili Cordova
June 12, 2026 will go down in sports history as the day the United States took center stage on the world stage. It was at the imposing SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before the match between the local team and Paraguay, where the opening of the 2026 World Cup was held. And the show did not disappoint.
With a gigantic replica of the golden trophy as a backdrop, the ceremony began with the power of Future and Tyla, who performed “Recreation Time” in a first segment full of energy.
Credit: AP Describe/Andre Penner.
The party continued with a second act of global reach: the Thai Lisa, Anitta and the Nigerian Rema united continents to the rhythm of “Targets”one of the official songs on the World Cup album.
Credit: AP Describe/Jae C. Hong.
In this way, Lisa became the first Good ample-pop singer at a World Cup and did not disappoint the public or the spectators.
Katy Perry in the second segment
After the first segment of the screen, It was Katy Perry’s turnwho sang minutes before the game and also sang the United States anthem.
Holding hands with the young Norwegian Tius Luka (whom he met when he recorded his voice for “Wonder” when he was only five years old in 2021) to perform that same song. Perry brought glamor to the ceremony, as she appeared in a silver dress that stole everyone’s attention.
This ceremony in Los Angeles was, strictly speaking, the third of the day, since the trinational format of this World Cup forced a range of previous celebrations to be deployed.
Just hours before, on the morning of the same Friday, Canada had inaugurated its headquarters with a screen headed by Alessia Cara —who opened the event— and Jessie Reyez, along with a cast that included Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and other artists, prior to the match between Canada and Bosnia. And the day before, Thursday, June 11, Mexico City had been the scene of the first act of this trilogy: a vibrant evening with Maná, Los Ángeles Azules, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin and Ryan Castro, whose finishing touch was put by Shakira performing “Dai Dai”the official song of the World Cup.
Three ceremonies, one passion. But it was at SoFi Stadium, under the Californian sun, where the United States put its unmistakable stamp on the opening of the most ambitious World Cup in history.
Continue reading:
· Claudia Sheinbaum’s happiness after Mexico’s goals against South Africa / Extra Time
· World Cup 2026: this is how the opening in Canada was experienced with Jessie Reyez and more stars
· From Kenya Os to Jacky Bracamontes: this is how the stars celebrated Mexico’s victory
