World Cup kicks off in Canada with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé performing in opening ceremony

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. World Cup kicks off in Canada with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé performing in opening ceremony16 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNadine Yousif ,Toronto ,Sareen Habeshian ,Los AngelesandNardine Saad ,Los AngelesReutersCanada's moment in the 2026 World Cup spotlight has arrived with a joyous opening ceremony featuring home-grown music stars Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. Canadian fans arrived in a sea of red ahead of the first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they broke out into an impromptu rendition of the national anthem O Canada as they entered Toronto Stadium. It comes a day after the global tournament began in Mexico City on Thursday with another opening ceremony that featured Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy.

Meanwhile, the first US game in Los Angeles, held later on Friday, will feature performances from chart-topping artist Katy Perry and Atlanta rapper Future. The 2026 tournament is being hosted in all three countries and is set to be the largest ever, with 48 nations competing. This is a long time coming," said Peter Giacobbe, a Toronto native who is attending Canada games in both Toronto and Vancouver, the country's second host city, along with his friend Robert McIntosh.

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"We woke up this morning realising that this is making Canadian history together," McIntosh said. Peter Giacobbe (left) and Robert McIntosh are cheering on Canada across all three games in Toronto and Vancouver. Getty ImagesAlanis Morrisette performed Canada's national anthemReutersReutersFans of the national Bosnian team were equally excited.

Hundreds arrived to the stadium in a separate march following the Canadian fans. Some told the they travelled from their home country to watch their team play in the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Others, like Bosnian-Canadian Layla Mesic, were closer to home.

Mesic was at the stadium with her Canadian mother, who donned a Team Canada jersey while Mesic proudly sported Bosnia's yellow and blue. "To even qualify to the World Cup, it's a big point of pride of us," Mesic said. "Today I'm 100% Bosnian.

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"She added that, to her, this is a once-in-a-life-time experience. "It might have cost an arm and a leg, but I'm here. "Morissette performed the national anthem to a cheering crowd.

Bublé, who performed with a choir, led the fans in the stands in a rousing rendition of Bring It on Home to Me, by Mississippi soul singer Sam Cooke. Along with Bublé and Morissette, performers for Canada's opening ceremony included Canadian singer Alessia Cara, Palestinian singer-songwriter Elyanna, and Toronto natives Jessie Reyes and Nora Fatehi. William Prince, an indigenous artist from Manitoba, also performed.

Organisers said the list of performers was inspired by Canada's communities and "rich diversity". Ahead of the match, the announcer in the Toronto Stadium asked the crowd to "join us in a round of applause for peace".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.