MILAN — Italy may be absent from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the pitch, but it will still play a visible role off it, with Milan-based Balich Wonder Studio (BWS) set to direct — for the first time — interconnected opening ceremonies across three countries.

BWS has been selected by world football governing body FIFA to oversee the opening event on June 11 at Estadio Azteca, along with synchronized ceremonies the following day in Los Angeles and Toronto, representing the three host nations of the tournament.

The studio, part of Banijay Entertainment, also produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has contributed to 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, including major international events such as the Winter Games held in Italy.

A “World Cup of Firsts”

“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 handled both the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and a World Cup in the same year,” said BWS founder Marco Balich in an interview with Reuters.

The ceremony in Mexico City will begin at 11:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). The following day, similar events will be staged in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m. (2330 GMT) and in Toronto at 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT).

Each performance will be delivered in the language of its host country and will last about 30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of protocol. While locally distinct, the three ceremonies will be connected by a shared creative concept that reinterprets the World Cup through different cultural lenses.

“It is important to foster a sense of unity among these three countries, whose relationships have been somewhat complicated recently,” Balich said.

Unlike the Olympic Games, where opening ceremonies typically feature long athlete parades, the World Cup format will be more streamlined, reflecting the tight scheduling of matches on the same pitch shortly after the events.

The productions will feature international artists including Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Future, Anitta, Rema, Tyla, LISA, and Michael Bublé, while Shakira is expected to perform the official tournament song.

Despite the absence of large-scale lighting and projection systems, the tri-nation format introduces new logistical and creative challenges.

“The challenge is effectively staging a single event across three locations,” Balich said. “Creating the right energy while respecting each country’s identity is extremely important.”

Around 30 core creatives have been working on the project in Milan for the past 18 months, supported by roughly 300 staff in each host country, bringing the total workforce to approximately 900 people.

While costs have not been disclosed by FIFA, Balich described the production as “a significant investment.”

For Italy, which has missed qualification for a third consecutive World Cup, BWS’s role ensures a presence on football’s biggest global stage — even if this time behind the scenes. -Editing by Gavin Jones and Peter Rutherford/Reuters