New York (AFP) – The World Cup isn't only about soccer: FIFA is drawing on music stars to elevate the competition into a global cultural event, broadening its reach beyond sports fans.
Issued on: 10/06/2026 - 23:56
3 min Reading time
From world-famous artists performing at the opening ceremonies to an unprecedented Super Bowl-style halftime show during the final, here is what to expect. - A musical opening - The festivities begin on Wednesday, on the eve of the tournament, with concerts in Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles that combine international superstars and major regional figures. Big names include American pop singer Katy Perry, Canadian artist Alanis Morissette, US rapper Future, Brazilian urban pop figure Anitta, Thai K-pop icon Lisa, and Nigerian afrobeats star Rema.They will perform alongside artists with strong home country followings, such as Mexican institution Los Angeles Azules Bollywood singer Nora Fatehi, and French rapper Vegedream."There's a concerted effort around the FIFA World Cup and their marketing team to leverage music as a through line to connect different audiences from around the world," said Clayton Durant, a music industry entrepreneur and New York University professor. This initiative is not new: in 2021, the organization launched its FIFA Sound program, describing it as "a strategy to connect with audiences worldwide through shared passions of football and music."Grand finale
