By Staff Reporter
Toronto: Football and music will take centre stage in Toronto after FIFA announced the first artist line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert series, a landmark celebration set to unite fans across Canada, Mexico and the United States ahead of the tournament.
The first-of-its-kind live music experience will take place on Wednesday, June 10, serving as a major prelude to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and marking another milestone in FIFA’s expanding music and entertainment programme.
Toronto will host a major celebration at the FIFA Fan Festival grounds at Fort York Historical Site and The Bentway, where fans will enjoy performances from renowned artists including Bryan Adams, Nora Fatehi featuring Sanjoy and Vegedream, as well as a special collaboration between AHI and Wyclef Jean. FIFA said additional performers and special guests will be announced at a later stage.
Tickets for the Toronto event will go on sale on Friday, May 29, at 10:00 EDT through Host City Toronto, with organisers encouraging fans to secure tickets early for what is expected to be a memorable celebration ahead of football’s biggest spectacle.
Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most multicultural cities, the Toronto Countdown Concert aims to blend football, music and culture as Canada prepares for its historic opening moments at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Peter Montopoli, Chief Tournament Officer of FIFA Canada, described Toronto as the ideal location for the event, highlighting its diversity and cultural vibrancy.
“Toronto is one of the most diverse and culturally vibrant cities in the world, making it the perfect stage for this first-of-its-kind FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert,” Montopoli said.
He added that bringing together internationally recognised artists, football supporters and communities from across Canada reflects the passion, energy and multicultural spirit the country intends to showcase during the tournament.
The Toronto event forms part of a coordinated celebration across the three host nations, with additional Countdown Concerts planned in Mexico and the United States. FIFA said more details on performers and event programming in Mexico will be announced on June 1, while information on United States events will follow on June 2.
According to FIFA, the Countdown Concert series will transform cities hosting the opening matches in each country into global entertainment stages, combining football, music and fan culture in a shared celebration.
Developed in collaboration with the GRAMMYs, the concerts will feature internationally acclaimed artists linked to the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, alongside global performers and special guests.
The Toronto Countdown Concert will be broadcast live from 21:00 to 22:30 EDT, allowing fans worldwide to follow the event through FIFA’s broadcast and digital platforms. A global livestream will also be available through the FIFA World Cup TikTok account, with TikTok serving as the exclusive social media livestream partner.
FIFA added that the full concert, alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, will be made available the following day on its video-on-demand partner platform, VuMe Live.
From Toronto’s multicultural energy to celebrations planned in Mexico and the United States, FIFA said the Countdown Concert series is designed to build excitement for the biggest FIFA World Cup in history and unite supporters through music, football and culture on a global stage.
