Italy might not be on the field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it will still be part of the tournament’s celebration through Milan-based Balich Wonder Studio (BWS), which is set to run an ambitious, first-of-its-kind set of linked opening ceremonies across three different countries.
BWS has been appointed by FIFA to lead the World Cup opener on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, with coordinated ceremonies scheduled the next day in Los Angeles and Toronto to reflect the three host nations.
Balich Wonder Studio, a unit of Banijay Entertainment, previously handled the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and has also contributed to 16 Olympic and Paralympic opening events, along with a wide range of other global productions, including this year’s Winter Olympics in Italy.
“It will be a World Cup of firsts: three ceremonies in three different countries, 48 teams competing instead of 32, and the first time a creative studio has overseen both the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and a World Cup within the same year,” BWS founder Marco Balich said in an interview.
The Mexico City ceremony is set to start at 11:30 a.m. local time (17:30 GMT). The following day, similar events will be held in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m. (23:30 GMT) and in Toronto at 1:30 p.m. (17:30 GMT).
Staged in the language of each host country, the ceremonies will run for 30 minutes each, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for official protocol. They will be connected through a unified creative approach that reframes the World Cup tournament by drawing on local culture.
Balich added that the project is designed to build cohesion between the three countries. “It is important to foster a sense of unity among these three countries, whose relationships have been somewhat complicated recently,” he said.
While Olympic openings often feature extended segments such as parades of participating athletes, the World Cup shows are expected to be shorter and more direct, with football action beginning on the same pitch shortly after the ceremonies conclude.
The entertainment is set to include international artists such as Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Future, Anitta, Rema and Tyla, along with LISA and Michael Bublé, while Shakira is expected to perform the official World Cup song.
Even without large-scale lighting or projection effects, the cross-country structure brings its own difficulties.
Balich said the central task is coordination across venues. “The challenge is effectively staging a single event across three locations. Creating the right energy while respecting each country’s identity is extremely important,” he explained.
A central team of roughly 30 people has been working on the concept in Milan for 18 months, working alongside about 300 staff members in each host country, bringing the total workforce to around 900.
The overall budget will be paid by FIFA, though the figure has not been made public. Still, Balich described it as a major undertaking. “It’s a significant investment,” he said.
For Italy, which will miss the tournament for a third consecutive edition after failing to qualify, BWS’s involvement offers a different kind of presence—one that keeps the country involved in football’s biggest event, even if this time it will be behind the scenes.
