Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026: New York, New Jersey prepare
Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee, discusses the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York and New Jersey. He describes plans for free fan experiences in all five states and New Jersey, emphasizing public transportation solutions for 1.2 million fans. Lasry confirms that real grass will be installed at MetLife Stadium for the event, highlighting the global interest in this major sporting event.
The world’s biggest sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is a few weeks away and will return to North America and the United States for the first time since 1994.
FIFA announced its first ever World Cup halftime match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In a post on X, featuring Elmo, Coldplay announced that the half-hour show will be produced by lead singer Chris Martin and feature BTS, Madonna and Shakira. Shakira will release the official World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” later on Thursday.
The show will also “raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” which is dedicated to “improving access to quality education and soccer for children around the world.”
FOX is broadcasting the entire tournament, with the opening games starting on June 11 in Mexico. El Tri will host South Africa in Mexico City, while South Korea will face Croatia in Guadalajara.
(LR) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Then the next day, the other two athletes played their first group stage matches. Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto in Group B. Then the US Men’s National Team, coming off of friendlies a few months ago, plays its first game against Paraguay in Los Angeles. They then head to Seattle to play Australia on June 19, before closing the group stage against Turkey in LA on June 25.
Unsurprisingly, given the scale and scope of the tournament, and the stage the US host provides, FIFA pulls out all the stops for entertainment.
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The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed outside the White House in Washington, DC, before the FIFA World Cup on Dec. 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA)
Currently, the governing body for soccer has released a comprehensive list of entertainment for the start of the tournament in the host countries. The opening event in Los Angeles on June 12 will feature the likes of Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the incredible scale of what the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “The list of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the movement of many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture, while demonstrating the power of music to unite people across the country.”
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is one of 16 stadiums selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 11 in the US. (Getty Images)
That event will begin 90 minutes before kickoff in the US, and will coincide with the opening two events in Canada and Mexico. The opening performance in Toronto will be performed by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
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In Mexico, headliners for the opening ceremony included Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
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Shakira performs at the 2025 Suenos Music Festival on May 24, 2025, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)
Players who have played in the World Cup final include stars such as Carlos Santana and Wycleaf Jean in the tournament held in Brazil in 2014. Will Smith was among those who performed at the 2018 finals in Russia, while Davido, Aisha, Ozuna were part of the 2022 closing ceremony in Qatar.
More than 100 games. 16 host cities in three countries. Over a month of action, it culminated in an epic finale in New Jersey. The World Cup never fails to bring success.
