Rema, Tyla, others to headline World Cup 2026 opening ceremony

Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has been named among global music stars set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

The Afrobeats star will perform at the Los Angeles Stadium alongside South African singer Tyla, American rapper Future, pop star Katy Perry, Brazilian singer Anitta and BLACKPINK member LISA.

FIFA announced the lineup in a statement shared on its official platform on Saturday.

According to the football body, the 2026 tournament will begin with three separate opening ceremonies across the host nations.

The first ceremony will take place in Mexico City on June 11, while Toronto and Los Angeles will host theirs on June 12.

FIFA said the ceremonies would combine football, music and entertainment in celebration of what it described as a historic tournament across North America.

“For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, a new benchmark will be set as three spectacular opening ceremonies unfold across Mexico City (11 June), Toronto and Los Angeles (12 June), as Canada, Mexico and the United States come together to launch the greatest show on earth,” the statement read.

It added, “Global superstars Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the celebrations in Los Angeles, with additional world-renowned artists still to be announced.

“Together, they will bring the sound of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to life for a global audience, delivering a high-energy spectacle that reflects the scale, ambition and cultural power of the tournament itself.”

FIFA also disclosed that the Los Angeles ceremony would begin 90 minutes before kick-off, with fans expected to arrive early for pre-match entertainment and activities.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the lineup reflected the cultural diversity of the United States and the unifying power of music.

“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become.

“The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture, while showcasing the power of music to bring people together across the country,” Infantino said.

FIFA added that the ceremony would be produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio and would feature immersive storytelling, live performances and large-scale visuals centred around the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The competition will begin on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and end with the final on July 19, 2026, at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.

Nigerian stars and football’s biggest stages

Over the years, Nigerian musicians have gained global attention through performances at some of football’s biggest events, showing how Afrobeats has grown from a local sound into an international cultural movement.

From the Africa Cup of Nations to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League final ceremonies, several Nigerian artistes have performed before millions of football fans across the world.

In 2013, singer D’banj performed his hit song Top of the World during the closing ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, shortly before the Super Eagles defeated Burkina Faso to win the trophy.

Davido later made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after becoming the first Nigerian artiste to perform at the World Cup closing ceremony. He performed the official tournament soundtrack, Hayya Hayya, alongside AISHA and Trinidad Cardona.

Grammy winner Burna Boy also recorded a major career milestone in 2023 after becoming the first African artiste to perform at the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey.

That same year, Rema performed his global hit Calm Down at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, becoming the first African artiste to perform at the prestigious football award event.

At the 2022 FIFA Fan Festival in Qatar, Kizz Daniel thrilled football fans with a live performance of his hit song Buga, while reggae dancehall singer Patoranking also entertained supporters during the tournament.

In 2024, Yemi Alade joined Ivory Coast’s Magic System and Egyptian singer Mohamed Ramadan to perform Akwaba, the official anthem of the Africa Cup of Nations opening ceremony in Côte d’Ivoire.