Canada opens World Cup with ceremony, earns first-ever point in 1-1 draw

Canada welcomed the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday with a star-studded opening ceremony at Toronto Stadium, blending music, cultural tribute, and national pride ahead of the host nation's historic first World Cup match on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A Stage Set for History

The ceremony, which began at 1:30 p.m. ET — 90 minutes before kickoff — opened with a tribute to Canada's Indigenous peoples, featuring large-scale representations of a moose, polar bear, and whale as Indigenous nations welcomed the global audience. William Prince, a Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter, kicked off the performances, followed by Alessia Cara singing her hit "Wild Things". Jessie Reyez and Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna then took the stage together for a duet of "Illuminate," as a golden soccer ball was raised into the air and red and white smoke filled the sky.sportingnews

Nora Fatehi brought global desi energy with her performance of "Siir Siir," while French singer Vegedream and Bangladeshi-American DJ Sanjoy also performed during the first portion of the ceremony. Actor and comedian Will Arnett served as FIFA Ambassador, welcoming fans to the event.inside.fifa+3

Bublé and Morissette Close the Show

The ceremony's emotional finale belonged to two of Canada's biggest musical exports. Michael Bublé took the stage in front of the flags of all 48 World Cup nations, performing Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me" alongside Toronto's Sole Power Choir. Alanis Morissette then delivered a rendition of "O Canada" that brought the crowd to its feet, marking the first time the national anthem had been played at a FIFA World Cup match in Canada. Bosnia and Herzegovina's anthem was performed on violin by Aleksandar Gajic.youtube+2

Star Power in the Stands

The ceremony and match drew a who's who of Canadian celebrities. Ryan Reynolds, Mike Myers, and NHL star Connor McDavid were all spotted in the stands cheering on the home side, according to the Washington Post. McDavid was later seen enjoying a glass of wine as he watched Canada rally from behind.russianmachineneverbreaks+1

The festivities gave way to a dramatic match. Canada fell behind before substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute to earn a 1-1 draw — the country's first-ever World Cup point. The ceremony was the second of three opening events for the tri-hosted tournament, following Mexico City's celebration on Thursday featuring Shakira and Burna Boy, and preceding the U.S. ceremony later Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.usatoday+3