Lisa to Perform at the 2026 World Cup Opening Ceremony – First K-Pop Female Soloist to Do So

Lisa, a member of the girl group BLACKPINK and a solo artist, will take center stage on a global platform. She has been confirmed to appear in the opening ceremony of the 2026 North America Middle America World Cup scheduled for next month, likely leaving a strong impression as a K-Pop female soloist at the world’s largest sports event.

According to The Athletic, a sports publication based in the United States, Lisa recently signed a performance contract with FIFA. As a result, she is included in the lineup for the opening act ahead of the match between the United States and Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, United States. Global artists such as pop star Katy Perry, rapper Future, and DJ Sanjoy will also perform on the same stage.

The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the opening ceremonies taking place across each host country. The opening acts in the United States and Canada are planned to last approximately 13 minutes each, while the opening match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico is set to run for 16 minutes and 30 seconds. In Toronto, Canada, Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Alicia Keys, and in Mexico, rock band Maná, Alejandro Fernández, and Belinda will perform.

Lisa’s participation in the World Cup opening ceremony is seen as a representative example of K-Pop’s global expansion. Following Jung Kook of BTS performing the official soundtrack “Dreamers” at the 2022 Qatar World Cup opening ceremony, the appearance of a female solo artist directly on the opening stage indicates an even greater expansion of K-Pop’s influence.

Born in Thailand, Lisa debuted with BLACKPINK in 2016 and has built a global fanbase by balancing group activities with solo work. Her solo single “LALISA,” released in 2021, sold over 736,000 copies in its first week, setting a record for the highest sales by a K-Pop female soloist. This was regarded as proof that solo artists can also achieve strong commercial success and generate significant attention in a K-Pop market previously dominated by idol groups.

Since then, Lisa has further expanded her reach into global markets. In 2025, she released her solo album “Alter Ego” and continued to broaden her musical scope while undertaking world tours and group activities with BLACKPINK. More recently, she attended one of the biggest fashion events, the 2026 Met Gala, alongside BLACKPINK members, demonstrating her influence across various cultural domains beyond music.

Lisa’s presence in the North American market continues to grow stronger. She is set to hold her residency show “Viva La Lisa” at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum in Las Vegas, United States, on November 13–14 and 27–28. This marks the first time a K-Pop artist will hold a solo residency show in Las Vegas, highlighting the intensity of K-Pop’s efforts to penetrate the North American market.