World Cup Canada opening ceremony: What time, what channel and who’s performing?

The second of three World Cup opening ceremonies is set to take place tonight, with a host of huge stars set to perform before Canada take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening game

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After seeing the likes of Shakira and Andrea Bocelli kick of Mexico’s World Cup opening ceremony, both football and music fans alike will no doubt be keen to see what their fellow hosts Canada have in store for their first game bash.

While the North American country has perhaps struggled to produce too many top class footballers over the years, never even scoring a point at the World Cup, Canada’s music scene has long been the envy of many, with the likes of Justin Bieber, Drake and Celine Dion hailing from the The Great White North.

But which superstars have been to selected to kick off proceedings tonight, and where and when can British fans tune in for all the action before Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Who will be performing?

Music fans both inside the Toronto Stadium and watching at home have a long list of superstars to look forward to listening to, including a handful of bonafide Canadian superstars.

Amongst the homegrown talent is Ironic singer Alanis Morissette, as well as hearthrob crooner Michael Bublé who will be making a rare non-festive appearance on UK screens.

Those two will be joined by fellow Canadians Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and country singer William Prince.

Also making an appearance will be EDM star Sanjoy, Arabic pop sensation Elyanna, as well as Nora Fatehi and Vegedream.

According to FIFA boss and Trump superfan Gianni Infantino, “The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity and the energy surrounding the FIFA World Cup”.

He added: “Through music, culture and unforgettable performances, we will welcome the world with a celebration that is uniquely Canadian while also connected to a larger story unfolding across Mexico and the United States.

“It will be a moment of pride, unity and anticipation as Canada takes its place on football’s biggest stage.”

What time will the ceremony kick off

Proceedings at the Toronto Stadium, also known as BMO Field, will kick off at 6:30pm for British viewers, or 1:30pm local time.

It is set to run for just under 90 minutes, with Canada’s opening fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina starting at 8pm in the UK (3pm in Canada).

Fans going to the game have been told to get there as much as 4 hours before the ceremony begins, so expect a raucous atmosphere from the get go.

Where can I watch?

Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina is being broadcast live on BBC 1, with live coverage headed by Gabby Logan beginning at 7pm.

For fans that wish to watch the opening ceremony in its entirety from 6:30pm, the full event is available on BBC Iplayer or the BBC Sport app, and should be accessible on most smart TVs through either of these means.

Radio listeners can follow the action on BBC Radio 5Live and BBC Sounds from 7pm too.