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Years of anticipation have all culminated into this moment. The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets started this week, and the USA has a very special opening ceremony in store for fans to get into the spirit.
An intense summer of global competition kicked off on Thursday with matches in Mexico, but the Americans will host their own opening ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday. Of course, it will be quite the spectacle, with appearances and performances from stars across the world of sports, music and entertainment.
Several artists are already confirmed to be headlining the event, like Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. This celebration in the entertainment capital of the world will represent the USA as it gets ready to host one of the most iconic sporting events of all time.
The Sporting News looks at the key details for the opening ceremony, including how to watch the acts and the expected start time.
USA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony live stream, TV channel
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website
The opening ceremony will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The show begins 90 minutes before the 9 p.m. ET kickoff and is set to feature in the build up to match during the 'FIFA World Cup Today' program.
The best place to catch the opening ceremony is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
What time does USA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony start?
The opening US World Cup ceremony gets underway on Friday, June 12 at 4:30 p.m. local time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Here's how that time translates across the United States timezones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Fri, June 12 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Fri, June 12 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Fri, June 12 | 5:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Fri, June 12 | 4:30 p.m. |
Who is performing at USA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?
With co-hosts Mexico, USA and Canada all hosting their own opening ceremony for their first match we're set to see plenty of big names before kickoff.
Leading the line in the USA will be Katy Perry and Future.
Other performers set to take to the stage include Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. Michael Buble, Shakira, J Balvin, Alanis Morisette and others will headline in Canada and Mexico.
World Cup schedule today and tomorrow
All times Eastern.
Friday, June 12
- Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina (3 p.m.)
- USA vs. Paraguay (9 p.m.)
Saturday, June 13
- Qatar vs. Switzerland (3 p.m.)
- Brazil vs. Morocco (6 p.m.)
- Haiti vs. Scotland (9 p.m.)
MORE: Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures
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2026 FIFA World Cup FAQs
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?
The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.
The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.
The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.
How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?
There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.
Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.
What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?
In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.
What time do World Cup games start?
Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.
Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.
English (US)