Hollywood Turns World Cup Kickoff Into a Celebrity Spectacle
At the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Hollywood embraced the tournament with a star-packed celebration around the USMNT’s game against Paraguay in Los Angeles. Before the match, David Beckham was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he called the honor “surreal and unbelievable.” His wife Victoria and close friend Tom Cruise praised him, with Cruise calling Beckham’s path a “classic Hollywood story” of hard work, determination and global impact.
Beckham said he never imagined “such an honor” would come to “a working-class English footballer like me.” He added that it was especially meaningful because it came “as we prepare to celebrate the opening of the 2026 World Cup here in the United States,” calling it a powerful recognition of football’s growth in America over the past three decades. Beckham, who played six seasons for the LA Galaxy and now owns Inter Miami, also told Cruise, “You welcomed us to Los Angeles 20 years ago, and since then you have been a loyal friend and an inspiration to me.”
After the ceremony, Beckham and Cruise joined a long list of celebrities at Los Angeles Stadium for an elaborate Hollywood-style opening show before the U.S.-Paraguay match. The crowd included Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Rob Lowe, Owen Wilson and Paris Hilton. Donald Trump did not attend, but in a phone call to the U.S. players he said, “I think you have a very good chance to go all the way. Just wanted to wish you lots of luck.”
The event featured a green carpet designed like a soccer field instead of the usual red carpet, a marching band, dancers surrounding a giant World Cup trophy in the middle of the pitch, and a broadcast greeting of “Welcome to the USA” over images of the Hollywood sign. Performers included Future, Tyla, Anitta and K-pop star Lisa, with costumes and staging inspired by Los Angeles street art and creative industries. Elsewhere, Canada opened its campaign in Toronto with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil, attended by Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers and capped by Alanis Morissette singing the national anthem. Kate Perry also attended the Los Angeles show and later watched the match alongside her partner, while former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau sat near her in the stands. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken watched beside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
