Rema to star at World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles

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Nigerian music fans are excited as Afrobeats star Rema (Divine Ikubor) has been listed to feature in a star-studded lineup for the opening ceremony in Los Angeles, United States, as FIFA prepares for one of the biggest displays in World Cup history.

Rema, the “Calm Down” hitmaker, has continued to raise the profile of Nigerian Afrobeats globally, after he also performed at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.

Another Nigerian superstar, Burnaboy, also featured in the tournament’s official theme song alongside Canadian pop star Shakira.

A snippet of the song was released last Thursday, while the full version is expected to drop on May 14.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking the first time in history that three countries will host the tournament together.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that each of the three host nations for the 2026 tournament will stage its own opening ceremony.

The tournament will begin in Mexico City on June 11 with the first ceremony ahead of Mexico’s clash with South Africa. The event will then move to Canada on June 12, where several international stars are expected to perform ahead of Canada’s clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Later that same day, Los Angeles will host the final ceremony featuring Nigerian superstar Rema alongside several other global music stars.

The lineup is also expected to include pop superstar Katy Perry, Grammy-winning rapper Future, South African singer Tyla, Brazilian singer Anitta and Thai rapper Lisa, bringing entertainment to the global audience ahead of more than a month of football action.

“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become”, Gianni Infantino said on FIFA’s official website.

“The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment, and pop culture, while showcasing the power of music to bring people together across the country.”

Nigeria’s team, the Super Eagles, will unfortunately not be at the World Cup.

Soccernet