Bryan Adams is set to kick off the summer of ’26 for the World Cup.
The “Cuts Like a Knife” singer will headline a “countdown concert” in Toronto to launch the tournament alongside Haitian hitmaker Wyclef Jean and Canadian-Moroccan artist Nora Fatehi.
Described by FIFA as a “first-of-its-kind live multi-city concert,” the show will be synchronized with events in fellow host nations Mexico and the United States, with talent and details to be announced.
The Canadian iteration, taking place at Toronto’s Fort York Historical Site and The Bentway, will also feature Ontario roots artist AHI, Bangladeshi–American DJ Sanjoy and French hip-hop artist Vegedream. Tickets go on sale Friday, with general admission priced at $36.
The event will be held on June 10, the day before the tournament begins. The first-ever FIFA World Cup match on Canadian soil will take place on June 12 when Team Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Throughout the tournament, several Canadian artists will play Toronto’s free FIFA Fan Festival, including Alessia Cara, k-os and Shawn Desman.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2026.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
