The 2026 FIFA World Cup just flipped the script on how to throw an opening party. Instead of a single kickoff event, FIFA spread the celebrations across all three host nations, and the Los Angeles leg at SoFi Stadium on June 12 was nothing short of a pop-culture spectacle. BLACKPINK’s LISA, Brazilian powerhouse Anitta, and Afrobeats star Rema took over the field to debut their live performance of the new track “Goals.” They weren’t alone on the roster, either. US rapper Future and South African singer Tyla set the mood early by opening the Los Angeles ceremony with the official single “Game Time,” warming up a crowd that was clearly ready for a heavy dose of international star power.
Produced by Grammy winner Cirkut, “Goals” is a very deliberate fusion of K-pop, Latin pop, and Afrobeats designed to mirror the sprawling, international nature of this year’s tournament. The track features heavily on the official World Cup album, but the performance itself carried some serious historical weight. LISA just cemented her spot in the record books, becoming both the first Thai artist and the very first female K-pop act to ever headline a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. It is exactly the kind of cultural crossover event that dominates social feeds for days.
What makes this stacked lineup even more interesting is the behind-the-scenes economics. Katy Perry, Dan + Shay, and Andrea Bocelli—who delivered a performance of the official World Cup anthem “DNA”—all graced the stage, but industry reports indicate none of the headlining artists received direct payment from FIFA for their appearances. Instead, the artists are treating the ceremony much like the Super Bowl halftime show, trading a traditional booking fee for the sheer promotional value of performing in front of one of the largest television audiences on the planet. For artists dropping new music right at the start of the summer, that kind of global visibility is worth significantly more than a standard paycheck.