Drone image of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on the eve of the opening of the 2026 World Cup Luis Cortes/Reuters The World Cup starts this Thursday (11), at 4pm, with the match between the home team, Mexico, and the South African team. Before the ball rolls at the Azteca Stadium, the world will watch a series of performances in the competition's opening show. As it is a World Cup played in three locations (Mexico, Canada and the United States), FIFA decided to throw a party for each host country. Mexico and South Africa face each other in the opening match of the World Cup In the case of this Thursday's presentation, the opening party is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm (Brasília time). FIFA promises a colorful ceremony, based on the art of Mexican papelpicota. According to the BBC, Mexican Alejandro Fernández will sing the home team's anthem, while South African Tyla will sing her country's anthem. Mexican actress Salma Hayek will welcome the audience. On stage, Mexicans Lila Downs and Belinda will also perform, as well as national bands Los Ángeles Azules and Maná. Venezuelan Danny Ocean and Colombians J Balvin and Ryan Castro also sing at the ceremony. Colombian star Shakira and Nigerian Burna Boy perform "Dai Dai", the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The party in Canada and the USA Anitta shares the singing of the song 'Goals' with Nigerian singer Rema and Thai rapper Lisa Disclosure On Friday (12), it is the turn of the United States and Canada to welcome the World Cup. On Canadian soil, the ceremony will also take place at Toronto Stadium from 2:30 pm (Brasília time), before the match between Canada x Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadian anthem will be heard in the voice of Alanis Morissette, while the Bosnian anthem will be performed by Aleksandar Gajić. Canadian actor and comedian Will Arnett will be the master of ceremonies. Other confirmed artists are: Canadians Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince and Nora Fatehi, as well as Palestinian Elyanna, Frenchman Vegedream and Bengali DJ Sanjoy. In the USA, the party takes place at the Los Angeles Stadium from 8:30 pm on Friday (Brasília time), before the match between the USA and Paraguay, paying homage to the "creative energy" of the American entertainment capital. Jason Sudeikis, famous for his role as the coach in the series "Ted Lasso", will speak to the fans. The country duo Dan + Shay will sing the American anthem, and the group Purahei Soul, the Paraguayan one. American singers Katy Perry and Future also participate. There will also be a presentation that will bring together the Brazilian Anitta, the Thai LISA and the Nigerian Rema. The trio released the song "Goals", part of the FIFA music album.