Did Canada surpass Mexico? The opening ceremony paid tribute to the country’s diversity and cultural roots

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June 12, 2026June 12, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Did Canada surpass Mexico? The opening ceremony paid tribute to the country’s diversity and cultural roots

The Toronto stadium was dyed red, like a maple leaf, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held on Canadian soil. The music, which sought to convey a message of unity, diversity and pride in their communities, gave shape to a party that celebrated the arrival of this event in the country for the first time.

A day after the opening of the 23rd edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where Shakira and Burna Boy were the headliners, Canada held its own opening ceremony to welcome the world and showcase the richness of not only its landscapes, but also its communities.

Before the ball rolled in the match between the Canadian and Bosnia and Herzegovina teams, the artists transformed the field into a spectacle dominated by the colors red and white, representative of the national flag.

At 11:40 a.m. Guatemala time, Canada began the ceremony with a countdown that took the public on a visual tour of the country and showed the beauty of its landscapes. The projected images evoked the passing of the ball from one generation to another, and then gave way to dancers representing the indigenous peoples of Canada to the rhythm of their traditional music.

In the middle of the presentation, the folk and country singer-songwriter William Prince was in charge of welcoming us to a place where the mountains mix with the water and where traditions have been maintained for generations. Between dances and songs of the native peoples, the main event made its way.

“We are here again, from one coast to the other. From the first inhabitants of this land to those who came from different parts of the world, generation after generation. This is more than a moment; it is a real connection,” he said, as the voices grew louder.

To the sound of drums and songs, dancers from different generations celebrated the union of Canadian communities that welcomed the world.

In both French and English the words resounded: “Through many journeys and voices, today we are all together.” The message resonated in a stadium that, although it looked partially empty, was hosting its first FIFA World Cup.

@maryleo40

Opening Ceremony (Canada) 2026

♬ original sound – Mary Leo 75 🌱

“Welcome to Canada, welcome to the 2026 World Cup,” was heard as dancers dressed in sports suits in the country’s representative colors removed the structure that covered the central ball of the stage. Then the Canadian singer of Italian origin Alessia Cara appeared to perform Wild Things.

While the artist took over the stage, inflatables representing a moose, a whale and a polar bear entered the venue along with dancers who livened up the atmosphere by waving flags. Then, the performer continued with a mix that included Fireon a stage inspired by the maple leaf that identifies the nation.

@gilcastillo9 The opening ceremony of the World Cup in Canada is held in Toronto. #world #worldcup2026 #worldcup2026 #fifa2026 #worldwide2026🇲🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦 ♬ original sound – 🇲🇽🦥⃤🧨𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓲_𝓖🦋

The rhythm changed with the presentation of Nora Fatehi, Vegedream and Sanjoy, who contributed more urban sounds with Siir Siir and they made the audience dance. Throughout the performance, the scenic elements and costumes were dominated by the colors red, white and gold.

As the “World Cup” chorus sounded, the three artists starred in one of the highlights of a celebration that combined music, dance and fireworks. Later, Jessie Reyez and Elyanna returned to the show with Illuminateone of the singles from the official World Cup album.

The fusion of pop and trap maintained the festive atmosphere as dozens of dancers and banners surrounded the stage to the rhythm of the song. Performed in English and Arabic, the piece marked another highlight of the presentation.

In the middle of the performance there was a problem with the scenery. The metallic and inflatable structure that simulated the World Cup trophy suffered one of its sides detaching, forcing it to be removed before the end of the event.

With Illuminate concluded a ceremony that, through the maple leaf, the national colors and the representation of native communities and immigration, showed the world the cultural wealth of Canada.

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