According to Iraf, while Italy has missed out on the World Cup for the third consecutive edition, an Italian creative company will play a key role in the event.
Milan-based Balich Wonder Studio has been selected by FIFA as the designer and organizer of three simultaneous opening ceremonies across the three host countries of the 2026 World Cup—an unprecedented move in the history of the tournament.
FIFA announced that the first ceremony will take place on June 11 at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, followed by two similar ceremonies the next day in Los Angeles, USA, and Toronto, Canada.
Despite cultural differences, the three ceremonies will be designed around a shared concept to create a connection between the local identity of each country and the global spirit of football.
Balich Wonder Studio has previously organized the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Qatar World Cup and participated in 16 editions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, making its selection for a project of this scale even more notable.
Marco Balich, founder of the studio, told Reuters that the 2026 World Cup “will be a tournament full of firsts,” from the three opening ceremonies to the increase in the number of teams from 32 to 48, and the studio’s simultaneous involvement in two major global events: the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.
He added, “It is important to create a sense of unity among the three host countries, especially given that their relations in recent years have sometimes been complex.”
Unlike the typically long Olympic opening ceremonies, which feature the parade of athletes, the World Cup ceremonies will be shorter and more compact, as the opening match will begin immediately afterward in the same stadium.
The ceremonies will feature performances by internationally renowned musicians, including Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Future, Anitta, Rema, Tyla, Lisa, and Michael Bublé. Shakira is also expected to perform the official World Cup song.
Balich described the biggest challenge of the project as “staging a single event in three different locations around the world,” adding that “creating a shared space while respecting each country’s identity is extremely important.”
According to the studio, approximately 30 people at the Milan headquarters have worked on the project over the past 18 months, and about 300 people in each host country will participate in executing the ceremonies.
The project is financed by FIFA, though the exact budget has not been disclosed, only described as a “major investment.”
Although Italy’s national team will not be on the field, the involvement of this Italian studio ensures that the country’s name still shines in one of the world’s most important sporting events—this time, not in competition, but on the stage that inaugurates the World Cup.
