World Cup and US Open 2026 draw global stars

The 2026 international sports calendar has drawn a roster of international superstars to stadium stands and opening ceremonies. From Katy Perry headlining the United States soccer kick-off in Los Angeles to Travis Scott and Queen Latifah spotted courtside at the US Open in New York, major global events are bridging pop culture and athletics.

Hollywood and Music Icons Headline the World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonies

The quadrennial tournament officially kicked off in Mexico City with a 2-0 victory for Mexico over South Africa. Co-hosted alongside the United States and Canada, the tournament brought major music and film stars directly to opening stages across North America to support their home nations. In Toronto, Canadian Alanis Morissette—who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame just one day prior—appeared June 12 at the event alongside fellow Canada natives Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, and Alessia Cara. Meanwhile, Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the Mexico City kick-off alongside J Balvin, Tyla, Alejandro Fernandez, and Danny Ocean on June 11.

World Cup and US Open 2026 draw global stars

Stateside ceremonies at Los Angeles Stadium brought out a massive contingent of performers and public figures. Katy Perry ended the festivities at Los Angeles Stadium after Future, Tyla, Anitta, and LISA hit the stage. Prior to taking the field—where Team USA is facing off against Team Paraguay—the pop star assured she was going to bring the performance of a lifetime, saying in a May 8 announcement, Kicking my feet because I'm performing. During the event itself, Perry lit up SoFi Stadium like a firework June 12 by performing her song “Wonder” alongside Tius Luka before kickoff.

Celebrity Fandom and Stadium Sightings Across North America

Beyond the opening stages, the tournament’s matches drew notable actors, athletes, and musicians into the stands. Ryan Reynolds was in the stands at the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto June 12 cheering on his home country of Canada, who tied 1-1 against Bosnia. Reynolds, who purchased Wrexham alongside Robert McElhenney in 2020, opened up about how deeply club ownership has shifted his perspective on sports.

At Los Angeles Stadium, where Team USA took on Paraguay, stars gathered in large numbers. Tom Cruise and David Beckham signed autographs as they watched the match, while Paris Hilton, Tobey Maguire, Rob Lowe, and Jaafar Jackson attended to cheer on Team USA. Women’s National Team players Christen Press and Tobin Heath showing up for the first World Cup soccer game on U.S. soil in 32 years.

Pop Culture Marketing and the Summer of Soccer

The cultural footprint of the 2026 tournament extended far beyond live stadium seats into major commercial campaigns. Kim Kardashian appeared in a Nike World Cup ad earlier this month alongside her and ex Kanye West’s 10-year-old son Saint West—a huge soccer fan—that declared summer 2026, because of the soccer tournament, the summer of dreams. Kardashian, who embraced the fandom by declaring herself in a June 5 Instagram post caption “SCCR-MOM,” joined a commercial cast that also featured Channing Tatum, Travis Scott, LeBron James, Jason Sudeikis, and Portuguese national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tennis Stars Draw A-List Crowds at the 2026 US Open in New York

As the international soccer tournament progressed, the sports calendar featured additional star power at other major events, including celebrities showing plenty of love for tennis stars during the 2026 US Open, which is now underway in New York. Figures ranging from Queen Latifah to Inde Navarrette and Travis Scott—who appeared on day two at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 31, 2026, in New York—have populated the tournament stands, signaling strong pop culture engagement across multiple major sporting codes.