Despite a star-studded lineup of international artistes, Vanessa Obioha writes that the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies across Mexico, Canada and the United States struggled to deliver the cultural spectacle and emotional resonance that have defined some of football’s most memorable celebrations
The last time a North American nation hosted the World Cup was in 1994, when it took place in the United States of America. Over 30 years later, the tournament returned to the continent.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already secured its place in history. It is the first tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations—Canada, Mexico and the United States—the first to feature 48 teams and the largest in the competition’s history. Its official soundtrack, featuring 18 songs by artistes from across the world, is FIFA’s most ambitious attempt to make music an integral part of the tournament.
Despite all the anticipation surrounding the tournament, the opening ceremonies struggled to match the grandeur of past World Cups. The most memorable World Cup spectacles have never been about celebrity appearances alone. They have used music and performance to distil a nation’s history, identity and aspirations into a few unforgettable minutes. Brazil’s 2014 ceremony, for instance, seamlessly blended music, dance and imagery drawn from its diverse cultural heritage and the Amazon rainforest.
