The opening ceremony at BMO Field in Toronto marked the first time Canada hosted a world cup event. However, the occasion was overshadowed by a technical malfunction on the main stage.

Central to the ceremony was a giant inflatable world cup trophy placed in the middle of the field. The script called for the cup to be raised from the ground and then lowered during the climax. Yet, the lifting mechanism encountered an issue, causing the structure to lose its shape. Within minutes, the cup began to deflate before tens of thousands of spectators.

Artists perform during the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at BMO Field, Toronto, ontario, Canada, on 12/6. Photo: Reuters

Artists perform during the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at BMO Field, Toronto, ontario, Canada, on 12/6. Photo: Reuters

Adding to the problem, the model's outer layer peeled off, revealing the internal air tubes. Organizers quickly had to remove the cup from the field while the program continued.

The ceremony, broadcast live worldwide, led to videos of the incident rapidly spreading across social media. Many users, particularly from Trung Quoc, ridiculed the mishap, viewing it as evidence of inadequate organizational preparation.

An account, believed to belong to an employee of a Chinese dairy company — a tournament sponsor — sarcastically commented that "even the World Cup trophy is leaking, perhaps it needs to be reinflated".

Beyond the technical issue, images of numerous empty seats in the stands also sparked discussion. The audience size did not match the event's stature, with some even suggesting Trung Quoc should host future world cups.

Despite the challenges, Canada's opening ceremony featured many international artists. Singers like Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Michael Buble, and Alanis Morissette delivered performances infused with North American flair.

Following Canada's opening ceremony was a match between the co-host and Bosnia & Herzegovina, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Organizers announced that 43,002 spectators attended the stadium, which has 45,736 seats, indicating an occupancy rate of about 94%.

Compared to the Mexico opening ceremony held the day before, the program in Canada was considered less impressive. The Mexico event brought together major names such as Shakira, J Balvin, Andrea Bocelli, and the band Mana, creating an exciting atmosphere with few glitches.

On the same day as Canada, the US also hosted its own opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, featuring Katy Perry, Lisa (Blackpink), Future, and Anitta. This series of opening events across three host nations marks a new feature of the World Cup 2026.

Hoang An compiled