FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony: Start time in India & where to watch
(Courtesy : Getty)
The biggest competition in football history is here.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, football’s grandest spectacle, has arrived after a long wait, with its commencement providing excitement among football fans. The newly expanded 48-team tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, officially kicks off on June 12, marking the return to North America after 32 years.
Before the much-awaited opening matches kick off, the competition has made global headlines for its planned celebrations for the biggest footballing event in history. For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA has planned magnificent and spectacular opening ceremonies across all three host nations. The inaugural celebrations are designed to reflect the rich identity of each host nation and bring it to the global stage, while also uniting fans across continents through a shared interest in football, music, and culture.
The very first FIFA World Cup opening ceremony will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before the tournament opener between hosts Mexico and South Africa, an iconic fixture that spearheaded the 2010 campaign.
Who will be performing?
The biggest attractions of the night will undoubtedly be the debut live performance of “Dai Dai,” the official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem. The anthem collaborators Shakira and Nigerian superstar Burna Boy are set to headline the main event of the ceremony.
The star-studded lineup in Mexico also includes Colombian singer J Balvin, South African artist Tyla, Alejandro Fernández, and the legendary Mexican band Maná. Additionally, Hollywood actor Salma Hayek Pinault will also make an appearance as an official tournament ambassador.
The USA and Canada will also have their respective opening ceremonies. Canada’s ceremony in Toronto will feature massive performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Michael Bublé, Jessie Reyez, Elyanna, Vegedream, William Prince, Nora Fatehi and Sanjoy.
The USA ceremony will be led by Kate Perry and Future, including performances from prominent Brazilian artist Anitta, K-Pop icon LISA and Nigerian star Rema. South African singer Tyla will perform at both Mexico’s and the USA’s opening ceremonies.
When and where to watch in India?
For Indian viewers, the Mexico opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 PM IST on June 11. Canada’s ceremony will start on June 12 at 11:00 PM IST, while the USA ceremony starts on June 13 at 5:00 AM IST.
Indian fans can watch the live performance on the Unite8 Sports television network, while digital viewers can live stream the event on the Zee5.
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Basil Elias Benoy is a sports journalist with a deep passion for football, cricket, and kabaddi. A devoted supporter of Manchester United and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he combines his academic background in Economics with hands-on experience in sports media. His work ranges from professional sports content creation for digital platforms to on-ground reporting for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.