Elyanna

Elyanna is a Palestinian singer confirmed to perform at Canada's Toronto opening ceremony on Friday 12 June 2026, the day before Canada's first match of the tournament. Her booking is a politically resonant selection at a tournament already overshadowed by human rights concerns about host-city standards and FIFA governance. The decision to feature a Palestinian artist at Canada's ceremony drew immediate attention given the broader context of the 2026 tournament's rights record.

Elyanna (full name Elyanna Khoury) is an Arab-Israeli singer of Palestinian descent, raised in Nazareth, who performs in Arabic and is known for blending traditional Arab musical influences with contemporary pop production. She signed to Interscope Records and gained international recognition through streaming platforms before being selected for the Toronto ceremony.

For Canada, the booking positions the host nation's opening event as a statement within the World Cup's contested political atmosphere — at a tournament where FairSquare's Article 15 ethics complaint against Infantino and Norway's formal backing of that complaint are among the defining pre-tournament stories. Her performance takes place in the same city — Toronto — where Canada's squad announcement to replace the injured Marcelo Flores is also pending.