Future and Tyla Perform ‘Game Time’ as World Cup Ceremonies Split Across Three Countries

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening celebrations took shape across three host nations, with Future and Tyla anchoring the U.S. event Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. A towering replica trophy sat at midfield as the Atlanta rapper emerged, backed by fireworks and red smoke, in a glittering red varsity jacket. He performed “Game Time,” the seventh single from the official tournament album, with dancers carrying gold soccer balls across the field. Tyla joined him mid-song for her verse, the South African singer stepping neatly into a production built for stadium scale.

The evening also featured Lisa of Blackpink, Anitta, and Rema performing “Goals,” another track from the World Cup album. The three arrived in matching white outfits, their segment sequenced as a tightly choreographed block within the larger ceremony.

FIFA structured the opening round across three spectacles: Mexico City on Thursday, Toronto earlier Friday, and the Los Angeles finale the same night. The Mexico match saw Shakira and Burna Boy deliver their official tournament song “Dai Dai,” alongside J Balvin and a long list of Mexican and Latin American artists. Tyla had already performed at that game, representing South Africa in the tournament opener, before traveling to Los Angeles to appear with Future. The Toronto ceremony drew Canadian acts including Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, and Alessia Cara.

The three-city format turned the opening into a series of simultaneous national statements, with each host country fielding its own production and artist lineup. In Los Angeles, the emphasis stayed on pop crosscurrents rather than local identity, pulling from multiple continents to match the tournament’s global brief.