Lisa, Anitta, and Katy Perry: Assembling a Global Team for World Cup Opening

The 2026 World Cup kicked off with an opening ceremony in Los Angeles that embraced multiculturalism, featuring a global lineup of artists including Lisa from K-pop, Anitta representing Latin music, and Katy Perry as a local star.

The ceremony, held at SoFi Stadium, began with a nod to the iconic Hollywood sign before transitioning to the field. A marching band in red and blue uniforms performed, followed by a display of fireworks. The stage then transformed into a reddish structure topped with a giant trophy. Music acts Future and Tyla performed "Game Time" with coordinated outfits.

Later, Lisa, Anitta, and Rema took the stage, blending K-pop, Spanish, and Afrobeats with white attire, a visual cue perhaps symbolizing unity amidst the host nation's political tensions. The event also maintained a strong patriotic accent, with freestylers performing to a beat.

Katy Perry delivered a powerful performance on a more understated stage, singing "Wonder" accompanied by Norwegian child Tius Luka. The FIFA logo, representing the world, was surrounded by flags of participating nations. While the ceremony was a grand global spectacle, it evoked a similar feeling to past openings, leaving a sense that it could have been even more impactful.

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The logo of FIFA, in representation of the world, was surrounded by the flags of all participating nations.