MILAN (AP) 鈥� will feature an unprecedented trio of star-studded opening ceremonies in the host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, created by the Italian producer behind the opening ceremony for this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Marco Balich, fresh off the , which included a parade of athletes , said he was up to the challenge of producing three shows in three cities, with teams numbering 260 to 300 people in each city.
The ceremonies’ unifying theme will be 鈥渢he celebration of sports, the passion for soccer, symbolized by the cup itself,鈥� Balich said. 鈥淭he idea is to narrate with three points of view and languages,鈥� using design aesthetics representative of each culture.
In Canada, a mosaic will represent its multicultural identity. Mexico’s motif will be the traditional paper cutouts called papel picado, while the United States will have 鈥渁 super shiny, glowing cup,鈥� said Balich, who also produced the opening ceremony for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Balich called it a 鈥渧ery good sign鈥� that Canada, Mexico and the U.S. were working together to host 鈥渁 peaceful World Cup.鈥�
“I think it鈥檚 very important that we stress the fact that the three nations are working together to host a very important and relevant championship, especially in this moment where there is so much controversy on the political side,鈥欌�� said Balich, founder of Balich Wonder Studios. 鈥淏ut the people are people, and they will get together and enjoy.鈥�
Each ceremony will feature top artistic performances that tap into the national identity, but Balich said spectators shouldn鈥檛 expect a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza. Instead, the ceremonies will combine welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball and about 30 minutes of musical entertainment.
鈥淚t’s a celebration of football, FIFA and the fact that, thanks to soccer, people get together in peace and harmony,” Balich said.
Each ceremony will be held about 90 minutes before game time, following a 25-minute player warm-up that organizers hope will prompt spectators to arrive early.
While the Super Bowl celebrates 鈥渁 game that is only famous in the U.S., the rest of the world plays soccer, and has a passion that is shared,鈥欌�� Balich said.
The festivities launch on June 11 in Mexico City, ahead of the Mexico City-South Africa match, with a show featuring Latin rock band Man谩, Colombian singer J Balvin and South African pop star Tyla.
They continue June 12 in Toronto ahead of the Canada-Bosnia and Herzegovina game, with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bubl茅 headlining, before heading to Los Angeles Stadium later that day for the U.S.-Paraguay opener.
International stars will take the stage at Los Angeles Stadium, including Katy Perry, global pop star LISA, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop artist Anitta, and hip-hop artist Future.
The Italian producer is enjoying the distinction of producing the two biggest sports ceremonies in the world this year 鈥� the 2026 Winter Games opening ceremony and 2026 World Cup 鈥� even as Italy sits out its third straight World Cup.
鈥淚t is very encouraging, actually, to compensate the sad news that Italy is not there this time,鈥� Balich said, adding that Italy’s absence 鈥渨hich is a disaster for us, has also enabled us to be very impartial鈥� in celebrating each country 鈥渋n a similar way.鈥�
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