Lisa makes history as first Thai artist to perform at World Cup ceremony

Lisa performed “Goals” at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday, becoming the first Thai artist to take the World Cup stage.thestar
The U.S. ceremony at SoFi Stadium featured Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Rema, and Tyla, with Jason Sudeikis appearing as a tournament ambassador.forbes
Three separate opening ceremonies spanned Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. in an unprecedented format for the jointly hosted tournament.today

Lisa Performs at 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles

BLACKPINK’s Lisa took the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday evening as part of the United States’ opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, performing “Goals” — her collaboration with Brazilian artist Anitta and Nigerian singer Rema — before a global audience of millions.

A Star-Studded Ceremony

The U.S. ceremony began at 4:30 p.m. local time, 90 minutes before the United States vs. Paraguay group-stage opener. Lisa joined a lineup that included Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Rema, and Tyla, while country duo Dan + Shay performed the U.S. national anthem and actor Jason Sudeikis appeared as a FIFA World Cup ambassador.nbclosangeles

Lisa and Anitta closed out their joint performance of “Goals” hand in hand, according to footage shared on social media. The track, released May 20 via SALXCO UAM and Def Jam Recordings, was produced by Grammy-winning producer Cirkut and blends K-pop, Latin pop, and Afrobeats.tiktok

Historic Firsts

Lisa’s appearance marks the first time a Thai artist has performed at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, and she is also the first female K-pop artist to do so. Thailand’s The Star reported that excitement had been building among Thai fans ahead of the performance, with the ceremony airing in the early morning hours in Bangkok.asianews

The ceremony was part of an unprecedented three-nation opening for the jointly hosted tournament. Mexico City staged its ceremony on June 11 featuring Shakira and Burna Boy debuting the official tournament anthem “Dai Dai,” while Toronto hosted a Canadian celebration headlined by Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé earlier on June 12.today

Global Reach Through Music

FIFA has assembled a growing official World Cup album for the tournament, with “Goals” serving as the fourth single following tracks by Los Ángeles Azules, Daddy Yankee, and Jessie Reyez. The strategy reflects the governing body’s effort to attract younger and more diverse audiences to the sport through partnerships with artists who command massive global followings across streaming platforms and social media.udiscovermusic