World Cup Opening: Katy Perry, Tius, and a Parade of Stars
Katy Perry headlined the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles, performing "Wonder" alongside 10-year-old Norwegian boy Tius. Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Justin Bieber attended, and fans showed exuberant enthusiasm.
On Friday evening, the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles hosted the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with pop star Katy Perry taking center stage. She performed in a silver dress from Stella McCartney's FW26 Ready-to-Wear collection and sang "Wonder" from her 2024 album "143."
Perry was joined by a special guest: 10-year-old Norwegian boy Tius, who recorded his part of the song in 2021 at the age of five. The singer first heard his voice in 2023, which inspired her to write the song's verses. Tius flew from Norway to Los Angeles to perform alongside Perry.
The U.S. ceremony was one of three hosted by the tournament's host nations. On Thursday, Shakira performed in Mexico City, and on Friday, Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé performed in Canada. The stands were filled with celebrities, including comedian Mike Myers, actor Tom Cruise, and singer Justin Bieber with his wife Hailey. The atmosphere was electric, with some female fans even losing their bras in excitement.
This year's World Cup features 48 teams for the first time and is being held across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The group stage runs until June 27, followed by the knockout rounds. Semifinals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, with the final on July 19. Defending champion Argentina, which won in Qatar in 2022, faces new challenges this time.
