Canada’s World Cup ‘coming out party’ gets patriotic opening ceremony

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Anyone tuning into Canada’s first 2026 FIFA World Cup match on Friday afternoon at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) would have no problem knowing the location thanks to an opening ceremony drenched in red and white colours.

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After Aboriginal dancers and a land acknowledgement spoken by musical artist William Prince, holding the hand of a young female soccer player, a large gold soccer ball in the centre of the normally green soccer pitch, also covered in red fabric, was unveiled to show singer Alessia Cara inside.

Cara, in a custom-made red and white adidas suit, performed her hit Wild Things, surrounded by dancers, some carrying flags, and she was joined by oversized origami creatures in the shape of a whale, moose, and bear.

That patriotic display was followed by Nora Fatehi, decked out in a more provocative red and white outfit that showed more skin, joined by Sanjoy and Vegedream, to sing Siir Siir.

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And shaking their hips with the best of them were singers Jessie Reyez and Elyanna, dressed in belly-baring red and white outfits respectively, who came together to perform Illuminate joined by dancers and fireworks.

Michael Buble hams it up in pre-recorded clip

The funniest moment came much later as Michael Buble, in a pre-shot video, claimed to forget Canada was playing Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday despite a reminder phone call from TSN’s James Duffy.

“Oh, my God,” says Buble after hanging up. “Okay, Canada, the world is coming and I need to bring us together and I’ve got nothing.”

Buble then appears to open the front door of his house and shout: “Canada! What do you care about?”

His neighbour responds: “I care about you shutting up!”

Buble then seeks out on Facetime the advice of such Canadians athletes as sprinter Andre De Grasse, soccer star Christine Sinclair, and basketball player Steve Nash.

“This is easy,” says Nash. “It starts with a great track!”

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Says Buble: “Start with Celine, Shania, Bieber …”

“Or … ,” says Nash.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” says the singer, who blurts out “Buble!” as the same time as Nash says “Nickelback!”

Buble later appeared on the Toronto pitch, after the 48 participating World Cup nations flags were marched onto the field, to sing Bring It On Home To Me backed by a choir dressed in white and pale blue.

“This is our moment,” said Buble more seriously in the video clip. “The World Cup on home soil. Stand up Canada, this is our coming out party.”

Will Arnett makes appearance

Earlier, FIFA World Cup 2026 Ambassador Will Arnett (Arrested Development) stood in the centre of the field to welcome the world.

“Canada opens its heart to you!” said Arnett.

Then it was Alanis Morissette’s turn to belt out Canada’s national anthem after Aleksandar Gajić, who performed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national anthem on a violin.

Morissette, decked out in a shiny red satin jacket and black pants, had no problem handling that assignment given her big, booming voice and what appeared to be a flyover by the soon-to-be-retired red and white Snowbirds that followed.

Later sighted in the crowd were such Canadian celebrities as Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers.

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