Katy Perry, 41, is set to headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Los Angeles on June 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. EST. The pop star will perform alongside Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla ahead of the USA vs. Paraguay kickoff at 3 p.m. EST. Perry confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE that she will debut a previously unperformed track from her back catalogue, not from her 2024 album 143. The 48-team tournament, the largest in World Cup history, runs from June 11 to July 19.
Anticipation Builds Around Perry's Mystery Song
The pop star arriving at SoFi Stadium has never once performed this particular song live. That fact alone is a sharper hook than any headline FIFA's marketing team could write, and it arrives wrapped in one of the most divisive artist selections in World Cup ceremony history. Perry has declined to name the track, but her description narrows the field considerably. Speaking at the Tribeca Festival premiere of Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour, Live from Paris on June 8, she told PEOPLE it is "very fitting for the ceremonial song," is not new, and comes from an existing album in her discography, ruling out anything from 143. Given her canon of anthems built around collective triumph, such as "Roar," "Firework," and "Rise," the teaser reads less like a mystery and more like a studied piece of anticipation management. Whatever she chooses, it will mark the first time the song has been performed live in front of any audience.
World Cup Opening Day Lineup Across Three Host Cities
The US ceremony occupies the final slot of a geographically staggered opening day. Mexico City went first on June 11 with Shakira, Burna Boy, J Balvin, and Alejandro Fernández. Toronto followed June 12 with Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, and Alessia Cara at BMO Field. Los Angeles closes it out, with Perry sharing the bill with Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla. Dan + Shay will handle the national anthem, and Purahei Soul will perform Paraguay's anthem.
Why Katy Perry's World Cup Selection Is Drawing Fan Backlash
FIFA's choice has not landed cleanly. Within hours of the announcement, social media filled with criticism aimed at Perry's recent public profile. The Lifetimes tour drew mixed reviews, and high-profile tabloid coverage in 2024 and 2025 kept her in a complicated spotlight. Critics argue FIFA opted for name recognition over cultural fit, with some fans contending the pick "eliminates half the viewing audience." Others took aim at the broader ceremony billing, with BTS and BLACKPINK's LISA announcements sparking separate fanbases into billing disputes that buried the football conversation entirely.
Perry's Proven Track Record in Large Venues
A 48-team tournament demanding viewership across six host cities does not pick artists casually. Perry's Lifetimes tour, which wrapped in late 2025, delivered hits like "California Gurls," "I Kissed a Girl," "Roar," and "Firework" to arenas across multiple continents. Whatever the online noise, she arrives at SoFi with a proven large-venue catalogue and a fanbase that has tracked her for over 18 years. Her own figure, offered at Tribeca while comparing Lifetimes to her 2012 documentary Part of Me, underscores her resilience.
World Cup Final Halftime Show Sets New Precedent
The next pressure point arrives July 19: the World Cup final in New Jersey, where the first-ever halftime show format makes its debut with Madonna, Shakira, and BTS on the same stage. Chris Martin's Global Citizen partnership sets the production bar at a level that will make or break the precedent for every future tournament. Perry's Los Angeles slot is the opening bracket. What happens in New Jersey closes it.
Broadcast Information
USA vs. Paraguay will be broadcast on June 12 at 3 p.m. EST on Fox Sports and Telemundo.
