Story perspectives

World Cup's Triple Opening Shows Stars, Trudeau Skips Canada

6/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup held three opening ceremonies, the first tournament co-hosted by three nations.
Canada’s ceremony at Toronto’s BMO Field on June 12 featured Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara.
The United States ceremony at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on June 12 included Katy Perry, Future and Anitta.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the U.S. ceremony with Perry, drawing media attention while missing Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

Historical Context

After FIFA chose Japan and South Korea as joint hosts in 2002—the first World Cup held in Asia and the inaugural multi-nation tournament—the event generated about US $1.3 billion in revenue. That precedent paved the way for the 2026 World Cup, now shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico, reinforcing the model of cross-border hosting to boost economics and cultural exposure.

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Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup held three opening ceremonies, the first tournament co-hosted by three nations.
Canada’s ceremony at Toronto’s BMO Field on June 12 featured Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara.
The United States ceremony at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on June 12 included Katy Perry, Future and Anitta.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the U.S. ceremony with Perry, drawing media attention while missing Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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