Alanis Morissette shines, Michael Bublé forgets the gig at Canada’s World Cup opener

TORONTO – Alanis Morissette had soccer fans head over feet as she helped kick off Canada’s first FIFA World Cup game on home soil Friday.

The Ottawa-born alt-rocker sang the bilingual national anthem before the Canadian men’s team’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium.

Wearing a satiny red shirt, she belted out “O Canada” as the crowd and Team Canada players joined in, surrounding her at the centre circle of the pitch.

Fighter jets streaked across the sky above the stadium as she held the song’s final note.

Moments earlier, Michael Bublé lent his voice to the opening ceremony, singing his 2022 tune “Bring It On Home To Me” alongside Toronto’s Sole Power Choir.

The B.C. pop crooner also appeared in a pre-match broadcast skit, where he seemed caught off-guard by a call from TSN commentator James Duthie, who asked if he was ready for the ceremony — which he had apparently forgotten about.

A flustered Bublé then called Canadian athletes Andre De Grasse and Christine Sinclair for advice on his performance.

B.C. basketball icon Steve Nash later rang him, suggesting he start with a strong track.

“Bublé!” Bublé said.

“Nickelback!” Nash replied.

Bublé then proceeded to give Canada a pep talk soundtracked to the Alberta rock band’s track “When We Stand Together,” lauding the country’s multiculturalism.

“You think we don’t understand the global game? We are the global game,” he said.

“This team is living proof that you can come from anywhere and stand together.”

Toronto-born comedian Will Arnett, an ambassador for this year’s World Cup, stepped onto the pitch during the ceremony to rally fans.

“We are a country shaped by many journeys, many voices, many cultures woven together into one living mosaic,” he said, echoing Bublé’s words.

“Today, alongside Mexico and the United States, we are proud to share this moment with the world.”

This year’s World Cup is the biggest in FIFA’s history, and it’s being jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico until July 19.

Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and Nora Fatehi were among the performers who took to the field during an earlier part of the opening celebrations.

Indigenous dancers in traditional garb started the pre-match show before Winnipeg folk artist William Prince welcomed fans to the historic occasion.

“From the First Peoples of this land to those who came from every part of the world, generation after generation, this is more than a moment — this is true connection,” he said.

Brampton, Ont. singer-songwriter Cara then emerged from the centre of a giant golden soccer ball installation at midfield to perform her songs “Wild Things” and “Fire.”

Canadian-Moroccan artist Nora Fatehi, Bangladeshi-American DJ and producer Sanjoy and French hip-hop artist Vegedream followed with “Siir Siir,” their track from FIFA’s official World Cup 2026 album.

Brampton R&B singer Reyez and Palestinian pop star Elyanna sang their own track off the project, “Illuminate,” as fireworks lit up the stadium.

Canadian hitmaker Cirkut executive produced the FIFA album.

Hours before kickoff, thousands of Canada Soccer fans filled downtown Toronto streets, waving flags and sporting red-and-white jerseys as they marched toward the stadium. Bosnian supporters held a separate march of their own, with many clad in blue-and-white jerseys.

Serbian-born violinist Aleksandar Gajic performed Bosnia-Herzegovina’s anthem prior to the match.

The U.S. opening ceremony was also set to take place Friday ahead of the U.S. match against Paraguay, with Katy Perry, Anitta, Future, LISA, Rema and Tyla slated to perform in Los Angeles.

Perry has been making headlines lately for her relationship with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who accompanied the “Firework” singer Monday to the premiere of her Lifetimes Tour concert film at the Tribeca Festival in New York City.

During a Q-and-A portion of the evening, Perry spoke candidly about Trudeau, calling him “the love of my life” and that she felt “very anchored” by her relationship with him.

Anitta, LISA and Rema join forces on “Goals,” the opening track from the FIFA album. Future and Tyla are on the second song “Game Time.”

Cirkut told The Canadian Press earlier this month that while political tensions between the three host countries have coloured discussions around the 2026 tournament, he believes music can offer a different perspective.

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“There is quite a bit of division in the world right now, but I mean, it all depends on who you’re with,” said the Halifax-raised producer born Henry Walter.

“I can be a Canadian, hanging out with Americans and someone from Mexico, and we all get along and we’re good and we say to ourselves, ‘Why would you hate?’”

He hopes the album can serve as a reminder that “people can come together no matter where you’re from.”

“There might be problems between certain people who are in power and different things at play, but music can transcend all that,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2026.