Canada’s first-ever FIFA World Cup began on Friday with a star-studded second opening ceremony in Toronto, staged ahead of the Group B match between co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bollywood actor and dancer Nora Fatehi was the headline attraction, performing the official World Cup song, Siir Siir, as the tournament’s spotlight shifted to the “beautiful and majestic” Toronto Stadium.
The moment carried added significance because Canada is hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history, and the opening-night spectacle served as a high-profile launchpad for the co-hosts’ highly anticipated campaign. With global attention on the host nation and the tournament’s early atmosphere, the ceremony also became a talking point for how FIFA is presenting the event across multiple venues.
Star-studded performances set the tone in Toronto
Fatehi’s performance of Siir Siir was positioned as the centrepiece of the Toronto ceremony, with additional acts helping build the pre-match energy. Vegedream and Sanjoy also featured, taking centre stage as part of the festivities at the Toronto Stadium.
Before kick-off, the Toronto programme included performances from Jessie Reyez and Alessia Cara, adding to the event’s pop-heavy lineup. Palestinian artist Elyanna also performed at the Opening Ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto, broadening the range of artists involved in the city’s World Cup celebrations.
The ceremony was notable not only for its entertainment value but also for its role in framing the opening weekend narrative: Canada’s debut as a World Cup host, the tournament’s multi-city staging, and the attempt to create a consistent “event feel” around key matches.
On the football side, Canada’s tournament start came against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a team that reached the competition by beating European giants Italy. That detail added competitive context to the occasion, underlining that the on-field challenge would be significant even as the host nation enjoyed the ceremonial spotlight.
Mixed fan reaction and visible gaps in the stands
While the Toronto ceremony delivered a major entertainment lineup, some fans took to social media to criticise FIFA for staging another opening ceremony, with many describing it as not exciting enough. Alongside the online reaction, a fair number of empty seats in the Toronto stadium were also noted, creating a contrast between the high-profile performances and the visible matchday atmosphere.
The discussion around attendance extended beyond Toronto. The Aztecs Stadium in Mexico City was described as filled to the brim, but the tournament’s second fixture—South Korea versus Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara—was reported to have noticeable swaths of unoccupied seats.
Ticket availability also became part of the conversation. According to reports cited in the coverage, roughly 180,000 tickets remained posted across FIFA’s official resale platforms a day before the tournament began. In addition, approximately 15,000 group-stage tickets were still obtainable directly through FIFA’s website.
FIFA responds to attendance questions
FIFA denied that the stadium in Guadalajara was empty and addressed how it reports attendance. In a post by FIFA Media on X (formerly Twitter), FIFA said official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match.
FIFA added that it works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure published figures are based on verified operational data. The statement also noted that during the match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.
Why it matters: early impressions of a World Cup are shaped as much by atmosphere and presentation as by results. With Canada hosting for the first time, the Toronto ceremony and the debate around crowd levels highlight the balancing act between spectacle, logistics and fan engagement across multiple venues as the tournament gets underway.