The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be an extraordinary event, featuring multi-nation opening ceremonies and culminating on July 19 with a Super Bowl-style Halftime Show for the final in New Jersey.

This World Cup marks a milestone in FIFA’s history, as it is only the second time the tournament has been co-hosted by multiple countries. The first instance occurred in 2002 when South Korea and Japan jointly hosted the event, with South Korea taking the lead in staging the opening ceremony. This time around, FIFA plans to hold distinct opening ceremonies in each participating country prior to the kickoff of the first match.

Let’s look at the details of the official performer lineups, event start times and broadcasting schedules.

The tournament is set to kick off on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, hosting the first of three opening ceremonies of the 2026 World Cup.

The opening ceremony in Mexico will feature performances from exemplary artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Mexican pop band Mana, who are known for their energetic shows. Representing the host nation, Alejandro Fernández will perform the Mexican national anthem, while Tyla will perform the national anthem of South Africa. They will be joined by other celebrated artists like Ryan Castro, Belinda, Burna Boy, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules and Shakira. The opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 p.m. IST on June 11, and the match will take place at 12:30 a.m. IST on June 12.