Manny Ita –
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema has officially been confirmed as one of the headline performers for the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking another historic milestone for African music on the global stage. FIFA announced that the “Calm Down” hitmaker will perform during the United States opening celebration scheduled for June 12, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Rema is expected to share the stage with an international lineup of stars including Katy Perry, Future, LISA, Anitta, and South African Grammy winner Tyla. FIFA said the performers were selected to reflect the cultural diversity and global influence of music across the tournament’s host nations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with FIFA planning separate opening ceremonies across the three countries for the first time in tournament history.
The announcement further cements Rema’s status as one of Africa’s biggest global music exports, following years of international chart success, sold-out tours, and major collaborations that have helped push Afrobeats deeper into mainstream global entertainment.
