The FIFA World Cup officially arrives in Canada today. Before the Canadian men’s national team plays its first World Cup match on home soil, Toronto hosts its own opening ceremony at BMO Field. You can watch the whole thing on TV or stream it free.
Here’s everything you need: the exact start time, every channel showing it, and the full list of performers taking the stage.
Canada World Cup Opening Ceremony: Quick Facts
| Date | Friday, June 12, 2026 |
| Start Time | 1:30 PM ET (10:30 AM PT) |
| Venue | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto |
| Followed By | Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3:00 PM ET |
| TV (USA) | FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Free Stream (USA) | Tubi |
| TV (Canada) | CTV, TSN, RDS |
| National Anthems | Alanis Morissette (Canada), Aleksandar Gajić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Ceremony Performers | Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Elyanna, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, William Prince |
What Time Does the Canada Opening Ceremony Start?
The Toronto opening ceremony begins at 1:30 PM ET on Friday, June 12, 2026. That is exactly 90 minutes before Canada kicks off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3:00 PM ET.
This is the second of three opening ceremonies at the 2026 World Cup. Mexico City held the first on June 11 before Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. Los Angeles hosts the third later today, ahead of USA vs Paraguay at 9:00 PM ET.
Here’s the ceremony start time in your time zone:
| Time Zone | Ceremony Starts | Match Kicks Off |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 1:30 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Central (CT) | 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM |
| Mountain (MT) | 11:30 AM | 1:00 PM |
| Pacific (PT) | 10:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
| UK (BST) | 6:30 PM | 8:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 7:30 PM | 9:00 PM |
| India (IST) | 11:00 PM | 12:30 AM (Sat) |
| Bangladesh (BST) | 11:30 PM | 1:00 AM (Sat) |
| Australia (AEST) | 3:30 AM (Sat) | 5:00 AM (Sat) |
If you’re heading to the stadium, FIFA says gates open four hours before kickoff. Exclusive activations, rewards, and entertainment run before the ceremony begins. Fans in the stands will play an active role in the show, so arrive early.
How to Watch the Canada Opening Ceremony
In the United States
FOX carries the Toronto ceremony and the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match in English. Spanish coverage runs on Telemundo.
If you want to stream it free, Tubi is showing the opening ceremonies and opening matches at no cost. No subscription needed, and nothing to pay. You can also stream through the FOX One app ($19.99/month) or Peacock for Spanish coverage.
Darren Fletcher calls the match on FOX, with analysis from Owen Hargreaves.
In Canada
This is the big one for Canadian fans. It marks the first men’s World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil. CTV carries it free over the air, with TSN (English) and RDS (French) also showing full coverage through Bell Media. All 104 World Cup matches are on TSN.
In the UK
The ceremony and match air on BBC One, with free streaming on BBC iPlayer. Kickoff is 8:00 PM BST, so the ceremony slots into Friday evening viewing at 6:30 PM.
In Australia
SBS and SBS On Demand carry every World Cup match free. The ceremony starts at 3:30 AM AEST Saturday, with kickoff at 5:00 AM.
In Bangladesh, India, and South Asia
Bangladeshi viewers can watch on BTV, Somoy TV, and T Sports. In India, coverage runs on Zee Entertainment channels and digital platforms. The ceremony starts late evening: 11:30 PM in Bangladesh and 11:00 PM IST in India.
Canada World Cup Opening Ceremony Performers List
FIFA has confirmed a lineup built around Canadian talent, with international names mixed in. Here’s the official breakdown of who’s performing at BMO Field, straight from FIFA’s announcement.
National Anthems
- Alanis Morissette: The rock icon from Ottawa has the ceremony’s biggest moment. She performs the Canadian national anthem before her country’s first home World Cup match.
- Aleksandar Gajić: Performs the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ceremony Performers
- Michael Bublé: The crooner from Burnaby, BC has won multiple Grammys and ranks among Canada’s best selling artists.
- Alessia Cara: The Grammy winner from the Toronto area performs in front of a hometown crowd.
- Jessie Reyez: Toronto’s own R&B star gets a true home city moment.
- William Prince: The acclaimed folk singer from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba brings Indigenous artistry to the ceremony.
- Elyanna: The singer, who has Palestinian and Chilean roots, adds a global pop dimension to the lineup.
- Nora Fatehi: The dancer and Bollywood star was born in Toronto and returns to her home city for the World Cup stage.
- Sanjoy: The Bangladeshi American producer and DJ brings South Asian fusion sounds to the show.
- Vegedream: The French rapper behind the 2018 World Cup anthem “Ramenez la coupe à la maison” connects this ceremony to World Cup music history.
Special Appearance
- Will Arnett: The actor and comedian was born in Toronto and serves as an official FIFA World Cup 2026 Ambassador. He joins the ceremony before the match.
FIFA describes the show as a celebration inspired by Canada’s communities and diversity, built around a cultural mosaic theme. The World Cup Trophy is reimagined as a mosaic, and the countdown unfolds as a journey across Canada. The production comes from Marco Balich and his Balich Wonder Studio, the team behind multiple Olympic opening ceremonies and all three World Cup ceremonies this week.
What Happens After the Ceremony?
The main event: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina kicks off at 3:00 PM ET in Group B.
It’s a historic match for the hosts. Canada has appeared at two previous World Cups (1986 and 2022) without ever winning a game or getting past the group stage. This is also the first time the men’s team plays a World Cup match at home. Canada enters ranked 30th by FIFA.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is making its second World Cup appearance and first since 2014, ranked 64th. Edin Džeko, now 40 years old, still leads the line.
Canada’s remaining Group B fixtures both take place at BC Place in Vancouver: Qatar on June 18 (6:00 PM ET) and Switzerland on June 24 (3:00 PM ET).
All Three Opening Ceremonies at a Glance
| Ceremony | Date | Venue | Headliners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | June 11 | Mexico City Stadium | Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, Maná |
| Toronto | June 12 | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) | Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara |
| Los Angeles | June 12 | Los Angeles Stadium | Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, Tyla |
Mexico City’s ceremony on Thursday set a high bar. Shakira gave the official tournament song “Dai Dai” its live debut alongside Burna Boy at a packed Estadio Azteca. Andrea Bocelli and EJAE performed the official anthem “DNA” during the parade of all 48 national flags. World Cup Ambassador Salma Hayek made a surprise appearance to welcome the world. Tyla sang South Africa’s national anthem, Alejandro Fernández delivered Mexico’s, and the hosts went on to win the opener 2-0.
Shakira isn’t done either. She returns on July 19 to headline the first World Cup final halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS at New York New Jersey Stadium.
FAQ
What time is the Canada World Cup opening ceremony?
The Toronto opening ceremony starts at 1:30 PM ET (10:30 AM PT) on Friday, June 12, 2026. That is 90 minutes before the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match at 3:00 PM ET.
What channel is the Canada opening ceremony on?
In the US, it airs on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with a free stream on Tubi. In Canada, watch on CTV, TSN, or RDS. In the UK, it’s on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Who is performing at the Toronto World Cup opening ceremony?
Alanis Morissette performs the Canadian national anthem. Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince, Elyanna, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, and Vegedream perform in the ceremony. FIFA Ambassador Will Arnett also takes part.
Where is the Canada opening ceremony being held?
At Toronto Stadium, known locally as BMO Field, in Toronto, Ontario, ahead of Canada’s opening match.
Can I watch the World Cup opening ceremony for free?
Yes. Tubi streams the ceremonies free in the US, CTV is free over the air in Canada, and BBC iPlayer is free in the UK.
