Sports fans in the United States have become used to artists, some bigger than others, performing the American national anthem at major sporting events, from the NBA Finals and the World Series to the Super Bowl. The 2026 World Cup, however, isn\u2019t following that formula.<\/p>\n
A star-studded start in Los Angeles<\/p>\n
Ahead of the USMNT\u2019s opening World Cup game against Paraguay in Los Angeles, stars including Katy Perry, Lisa and Future headlined the third of the tournament\u2019s three opening ceremonies before country music duo Dan + Shay<\/a> performed \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d before kickoff.<\/p>\n The three-time Grammy winners were joined at SoFi Stadium by Paraguayan group Purah\u00e9i Soul, which performed the pregame anthem for the USMNT\u2019s South American opponents.<\/p>\n Back to World Cup tradition in Seattle<\/p>\n Before the second group-stage game against Australia<\/a> in Seattle, however, no performers were booked to sing either national anthem. That is the standard format for most World Cup matches and international games in general. Exceptions were made only for the opening matches involving the tournament\u2019s three host nations: the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n Instead, a band played both national anthems, with fans at Lumen Field invited to sing along.<\/p>\n USMNT chasing early qualification<\/p>\n Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s men opened their World Cup campaign with a thumping 4-1 victory over Paraguay and now have the opportunity to seal a place in the round of 32<\/a> with a game to spare. Fellow co-hosts Mexico have already qualified, while Canada are on the brink of progressing after taking four points from their first two matches.<\/p>\n Related stories<\/p>\n Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage<\/a>, right at your fingertips \u2013 anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s more: check out our TikTok<\/a> and Instagram reels<\/a> for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.<\/p>\n