Canada kicks off the 2026 World Cup with a grand music festival featuring Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, and an international star lineup.

The event took place before Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking the first time this North American nation has hosted men's World Cup matches on home soil.

The ceremony began with a performance by singer Alessia Cara. Emerging from a giant golden ball in the middle of the stadium, she delivered an elaborate show with over twenty dancers, incorporating the national flag and iconic Canadian natural symbols. Cara performed the song "Wild Things" from her debut album "Know-It-All" (2015), an album that launched her to fame with the hit "Here."

The stage then shifted to a more international atmosphere as the golden ball transformed into a globe model. Singer Nora Fatehi, DJ Sanjoy, and rapper Vegedream appeared together to perform "Siir," one of the songs from the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album.

Following that, Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna and Canadian star Jessie Reyez delivered a performance of "Illuminate," one of the standout tracks from this year's World Cup album.

The football atmosphere truly reached its peak when Alanis Morissette appeared to perform the Canadian national anthem "O Canada." Meanwhile, violinist Aleksandar Gajic presented the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating a solemn moment before kickoff.

Next came an emotional performance by Michael Buble with the Sole Power Choir. The singer performed the classic Sam Cooke song "Bring It On Home to Me," receiving a warm response from the audience.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the opening ceremony in Toronto was designed to reflect Canada's multicultural identity and the excitement of the 2026 World Cup.

"The opening ceremony in Toronto is a powerful reflection of Canada's identity and the energy enveloping the 2026 World Cup. Through music, culture, and memorable performances, we will welcome the world with a festival that is distinctly Canadian, while connecting to the larger story unfolding in Mexico and the United States. This will be a moment of pride, unity, and anticipation as Canada steps onto the biggest stage in world football."

The program was built around the theme of "mosaic," symbolizing Canada's ethnic and cultural diversity. This imagery appeared throughout the stadium via the national flag, costumes, and stage effects.

The most highly praised opening segment came from artist William Prince, a member of the Peguis First Nation community in Manitoba. He welcomed the global audience with the message: "We gather again here, from coast to coast, from the first inhabitants of this land. This is not just a moment. This is a true connection."

William Prince emphasized the cultural heritage of Canada's Indigenous communities through music, art, crafts, and traditional dance. Many observers noted that this was the most distinctly Canadian part of the entire opening ceremony.

Among the performing artists, Elyanna was considered the one who left the strongest impression.

On a stage dominated by red, the singer appeared in a white outfit inspired by Arab culture, combining traditional Palestinian embroidery (tatreez) with a keffiyeh scarf. Her image was not only visually striking but also helped convey the multicultural spirit that Canada aimed to express.

The song "Illuminate," performed by Elyanna and Jessie Reyez, was described by many critics as one of the best tracks on the 2026 World Cup album.

The opening ceremony in Toronto was the second in a series of three opening ceremonies for the 2026 World Cup, the first tournament hosted by three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. After Canada, the focus will shift to Los Angeles (USA), where Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa (BLACKPINK), and Rema will perform during the ceremony for matches held in the United States.

The opening ceremony in Toronto marked a historic milestone for Canada. For the first time, this country was not just a spectator of the world's biggest football festival, but also became part of the central stage, where the world turned its eyes toward the 2026 World Cup.