The USA’s World Cup 2026 will be kicked off in spectacular fashion following performances from Katy Perry and Future as the tournament co-hosts play Paraguay in their opening match of the tournament in Los Angeles.
Pop star Perry will be headlined the opening show in California, bringing down the curtain on the festivities after Shakira performance in Mexico City and Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette took to the stage before Canada’s first match.
The USA, managed by former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, will be expected to advance from a group that features tonight’s opponents Paraguay as well as Australia and Turkey, with an eye on progressing further too.
President Donald Trump will be notable by his absence at the SoFi Stadium, ahead of his 80th birthday celebrations in Washington this weekend, while empty seats and the World Cup’s mandatory drinks breaks have been controversial aspects of the tournament so far.
Follow live updates from the USA’s opening ceremony and the Paraguay match, below
After decades trying to win the World Cup, shouldn’t the USA be better at football by now?
Before the 1994 World Cup, the American columnist Tom Weir wrote a withering assessment of the sport his country was about to host. “Hating soccer,” he said in USA Today, “is more American than mom’s apple pie, driving a pick-up or spending Saturday afternoon channel-surfing with the remote control.”
Not everyone shared Weir’s disdain, given record attendances at USA ‘94. But even today there remains a lingering perspective, mainly among conservative men of a certain age, that soccer is a sport for girls and sissy boys who dive to the floor on first contact, whereas real American sports involve tough guys running, jumping or, in Nascar’s case, driving into one another.
It is a tired old trope that you don’t tend to find around the rest of the world, and it begins to explain America’s challenge in building a men’s team to match their women and win the World Cup.
After decades trying to win the World Cup, why aren’t USA any better at football?
USA are four-time champions in the women’s game but as the 2026 tournament begins on home soil, are they any closer to winning the men’s World Cup?Lawrence Ostlere in Los Angeles12 June 2026 22:01
Will we get another Diana Ross moment?
The US has a history of memorable moments when it comes to World Cup opening ceremonies, with Diana Ross’s missed penalty ahead of the 1994 World Cup in Chicago going down in hilarious infamy.
Will Katy Perry top this, maybe by leathering one into the back of a steward? Probably not, but a man can dream.
Who is performing?
International pop star Katy Perry will headline in her home state, joined by rapper Future.
Tyla will also appear at her second ceremony having performed across the border in Mexico, along with Thai-born star Lisa from K-pop band Blackpink, Nigerian artist Rema and Brazilian singer Anitta.
How can I watch the opening ceremony and USA vs Paraguay?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game for free on BBC One or stream it live on BBC iPlayer.
Viewers in the US can watch the game on FOX and Tubi, while a Spanish-language broadcast will be available on Telemundo.
When is the USA’s opening ceremony?
The United States will put on the third and final World Cup opening ceremony tonight, hoping to upstage Canada and Mexico by saving the best ‘til last.
It will get starts 12:30am BST on Saturday 13 June (i.e. tonight) at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles – the newest stadium being used at this summer’s tournament.
World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony LIVE!
The USA’s World Cup 2026 will be kicked off in spectacular fashion following performances from Katy Perry and Future as the tournament co-hosts play Paraguay in their opening match of the tournament in Los Angeles.
Pop star Perry will be headlined the opening show in California, bringing down the curtain on the festivities after Shakira performance in Mexico City and Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette took to the stage before Canada’s first match.
The USA, managed by former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, will be expected to advance from a group that features tonight’s opponents Paraguay as well as Australia and Turkey, with an eye on progressing further too.
President Donald Trump will be notable by his absence at the SoFi Stadium, ahead of his 80th birthday celebrations in Washington this weekend, while empty seats and the World Cup’s mandatory drinks breaks have been controversial aspects of the tournament so far.
Good evening!
Hello there and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the United States’ World Cup opening ceremony ahead of the host nation’s curtain-raiser with Paraguay!
We’ll bring you all the latest from the extravaganza at SoFi Stadium, which will be headlined by Future and Katy Perry, before sinking our teeth into some proper World Cup action.
Stay tuned!
Will Castle12 June 2026 20:20