The USA’s World Cup 2026 will be kicked off in spectacular fashion following performances from Katy Perry and Future as the tournament co-hosts play Paraguay in their opening match of the tournament in Los Angeles.
Pop star Perry will be headlined the opening show in California, bringing down the curtain on the festivities after Shakira performance in Mexico City and Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette took to the stage before Canada’s first match.
The USA, managed by former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, will be expected to advance from a group that features tonight’s opponents Paraguay as well as Australia and Turkey, with an eye on progressing further too.
President Donald Trump will be notable by his absence at the SoFi Stadium, ahead of his 80th birthday celebrations in Washington this weekend, while empty seats and the World Cup’s mandatory drinks breaks have been controversial aspects of the tournament so far.
Follow live updates from the USA’s opening ceremony and the Paraguay match, below
So, this now feels much less like a World Cup opening ceremony and more like a normal pre-match build.
The likes of Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are pinging balls to each other, fans are slowly filtering into the ground, and “Freed From Desire” is blaring over the speakers. Feels like your average Saturday at Craven Cottage.
Some time until Katy Perry…
Right – the players are out on the field to warm up. Looks like the main event of Katy Perry won’t be happening until right before kick-off… if at all?
Richards returns for USA
Team news brings a huge injury boost for the USA, with Chris Richards deemed fit to start after winning his race to recover from an ankle injury. He starts alongside captain Tim Ream.
Going forward, the USA’s main threat will be Christian Pulisic, who is joined by former Arsenal youth star Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, who has earned his fair share of admirers at PSV this term.
TEAM NEWS!
USA XI: Brady, Dest, Richards, Ream, Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Reyna, Pulisic, Balogun, Pepi.
Paraguay XI: Gill; Cáceres, Gómez, Alderete, Júnior Alonso; Cubas, Bobadilla, Diego Gómez; Enciso, Almirón; Sanabria.
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony
Should note that the stadium is still only half-full for the opening ceremony, which was penned in to begin about half an hour ago.
Katy Perry won’t be happy performing to thousands of empty seats. Let’s hope it fills up for the actual game…
‘No need for water breaks but we’re getting them anyway’
Here’s Lawrence Ostlere at SoFi Stadium:
“Good afternoon from SoFi Stadium, known today as the Los Angeles Stadium for Fifa reasons. It’s a beautiful day here, 20+C with a breeze flowing off the Pacific Ocean. There is no need for water breaks but as you know by now, we’re getting them anyway. Fans are streaming in, there’s a nice buzz, and soon it will be over to the US team to deliver amid plenty of expectation here.”
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony
Some questionable lip-syncing there, but not the artists’ fault that they’re not allowed to sing. That’s it for act one of this opening ceremony – I assume we’re getting a quick change of stage before ramping things up…
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony
Ah, so that’s what this mysterious dribbler is here for! He’s dropping the shoulder and weaving his way past cardboard signs to lead us into different musical acts. That’s one way to do a transition, I guess.
Now it’s Lisa, Rema and Anitta’s turn to take the spotlight.
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony
Future and Tyla are performing their World Cup 2026 anthem, Game Time.
Fair play to Tyla, this is her second opening ceremony having also performed at Mexico’s last night.
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony
Some serious drumming is accompanied by a man decked in a gold outfit akin to that of one George Washington.
Then someone with a funky haircut clumsily dribbles through the middle of the drummers. Are we going to get some freestyling?
No. Onto the first musical act: Future.
