Fact Check: Is Bad Bunny set to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As the preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are in full swing, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms that Bad Bunny will be performing at the game’s opening ceremony, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Let us analyze the origins of the rumor and fact-check the viral claim.
Claim: Bad Bunny to perform at FIFA opening ceremony
According to the viral claim that has surfaced on X on Thursday, March 26, Bad Bunny will be performing at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony.
This comes after the Puerto Rican rapper’s much-debated performance at the NFL Halftime Show last month.
The post has garnered more than seven hundred thousand views and thousands of likes as of this writing and continues to go viral.
The comments under the post even suggest that many believe the claim to be true, while a few others expressed scepticism.
Fact Check: The claim originated as a satire
The claim, however, is false, as there is no official announcement from FIFA or the artist about the performance for the opening ceremony of the much-awaited games.
Moreover, the claim originated from a popular parody account called ‘Hoops Crave’ that often posts such fake and unverified claims for the sake of engagement.
A search on Google for the claim yielded no results from any prominent sports media outlets about his performance in the upcoming games.
A fact check by Grok also confirmed the claim to be false, stating, “No official FIFA confirmation on him performing at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony—it's an unverified rumor/speculation. Betting and reports lean more toward him possibly headlining the final halftime show instead.”
Donald Trump's Iran World Cup remark sparks debate
The claim surfaced as the United States’ conflict with Iran continues to escalate, and Donald Trump has sparked global debate after saying Iran will be welcome to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The statement was revealed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who said Trump assured him the Iranian national team could enter the US to play in the tournament.
The team is scheduled to play group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle during the tournament. FIFA says the World Cup must remain a global event that unites nations beyond politics.
However, the geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s participation are now fueling intense debate worldwide.
