Lisa from BLACKPINK is set to make history at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
BLACKPINK’s Lisa is about to add another landmark moment to one of the most storied solo careers in K-pop history.
The 29-year-old Thai superstar has been officially confirmed as a performer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles, making her the first female artist from a K-pop group — and the first Thai artist of any genre — to perform at the world’s most-watched sporting event.
A Historic Stage at SoFi Stadium
The Los Angeles opening ceremony is scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium, ahead of the tournament’s curtain-raiser between the United States and Paraguay.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the news via his official account, describing the LA event as a reflection of the “extraordinary scale” of the 2026 World Cup.
Lisa’s label, LLOUD, also confirmed her participation in an official statement, saying: “Happy to announce that LISA will be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony, the largest FIFA World Cup in history!”
The star-studded Los Angeles lineup features some of the biggest names in global pop: Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Rema, Tyla, and DJ Sanjoy, with additional performers expected to be announced closer to the event.
The ceremony itself will run for approximately 13 minutes — a tight but explosive window that FIFA is using to spotlight a diverse range of global talent.
The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and for the first time in World Cup history, three separate opening ceremonies are planned across all three host nations.
Festivities begin in Mexico City on June 11, where artists including Maná, Alejandro Fernández, and Belinda will perform at Estadio Azteca. On June 12, Toronto will celebrate with Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, and Alessia Cara before the spotlight shifts to Los Angeles.
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Following in Jungkook’s Footsteps
Lisa’s upcoming appearance carries particular significance within the K-pop community.
She will become only the second K-pop act ever to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, following BTS member Jungkook, who delivered a widely celebrated performance of “Dreamers” at the 2022 Qatar World Cup opener.
That song went on to become a global hit, charting internationally and cementing K-pop’s growing influence on major world sporting events.
Now, many fans view Lisa’s upcoming World Cup turn as the next chapter in that story — and a personal milestone that underscores just how far her solo career has come since she stepped out on her own.
More Than Music: A World Cup Soundtrack
Beyond the ceremony itself, reports indicate that Lisa is also preparing to release an official World Cup soundtrack track alongside fellow performers Anitta, Rema, and Brazilian music group Tropkillaz.
If confirmed, the collaboration would give Lisa her first major sports-affiliated release and further embed her in the global pop conversation surrounding the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final at New York-New Jersey Stadium.
The Rise of a Global Solo Force
Lisa’s inclusion on a FIFA stage is not an accident — it is the result of several years of carefully building one of the most ambitious solo careers in modern pop music.
Born Lalisa Manobal in Buriram, Thailand, she rose to global fame as BLACKPINK’s main dancer and lead rapper following the group’s 2016 debut under YG Entertainment.
By the time BLACKPINK became one of the most commercially dominant girl groups in music history, Lisa had already established herself as the most followed K-pop artist on Instagram, with over 106 million followers.
Her solo pivot began in earnest in 2024, when she chose not to renew her individual contract with YG Entertainment and instead launched her own artist management company, LLOUD.
A partnership with RCA Records followed, notable for one unprecedented detail: Lisa retained full ownership of all her master recordings — a move virtually unheard of for a K-pop artist.
Her first single under the LLOUD/RCA banner, “Rockstar,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart in June 2024.
It was followed by “New Woman” with Rosalía and “Moonlit Floor,” building toward her debut solo album, Alter Ego, released on February 28, 2025. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 1 on Billboard Top Album Sales.
A Year of Firsts
2026 has been nothing short of extraordinary for Lisa even before the World Cup announcement.
In March, she became the first K-pop singer to perform at the Academy Awards, delivering a tribute to the James Bond film series at the 97th Oscars.
In April, she performed at Coachella for a second consecutive year — making her the first K-pop artist to do so — this time appearing as a surprise guest in Italian DJ Anyma’s Main Stage set, performing their collaboration “Bad Angel.”
Then came the announcement that solidified her position as a true global live act: VIVA LA LISA, a Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, scheduled for November 13, 14, 27, and 28, 2026. With that, Lisa became the first K-pop artist to mount a Las Vegas residency. Tickets sold out almost immediately.
Outside of music, she made her acting debut as “Mook” in the Emmy-nominated third season of HBO’s The White Lotus in 2025, and is currently preparing for her first major film role in TYGO, a new installment in the Extraction universe.
What June 12 Means
When Lisa takes the stage at SoFi Stadium on June 12, she will carry with her a weight of history that extends well beyond K-pop. She will represent Thailand on football’s grandest stage, continue a tradition of K-pop artists crossing into global sporting culture, and deliver what promises to be one of the most watched performances of 2026.
For fans who have followed her journey from YG trainee to global pop powerhouse, the World Cup opening ceremony is simply the latest proof of something they have believed for years: Lisa was always going to be bigger than any single stage could contain.
Conclusion
Lisa’s confirmation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony is more than a booking — it is a statement about where K-pop stands in the global cultural order.
A decade ago, the idea of a K-pop solo artist headlining the world’s most-watched sporting event alongside Katy Perry and Future would have seemed far-fetched.
Today, with Lisa as the first female K-pop act and first Thai artist to claim that stage, it feels not just possible but inevitable. Her trajectory — from BLACKPINK maknae to Grammy-circuit performer, label CEO, Las Vegas headliner, and now World Cup act — maps the exact distance K-pop has traveled in the global mainstream.
Whatever comes next for Lisa, June 12 at SoFi Stadium will stand as one of the defining images of that journey.
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Sources to write this article.
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The Korea Times — BLACKPINK’s Lisa joins FIFA World Cup opening show lineup alongside Katy Perryhttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260509/blackpinks-lisa-joins-fifa-world-cup-opening-show-lineup-alongside-katy-perry
Outlook Respawn — Blackpink Lisa FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Lineup Out Nowhttps://respawn.outlookindia.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/blackpink-lisa-fifa-world-cup-2026-opening-ceremony-lineup-out-now
IBTimes SG — BLACKPINK’s Lisa Makes History as First Thai Artist to Perform at FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonyhttps://www.ibtimes.sg/blackpinks-lisa-makes-history-first-thai-artist-perform-fifa-world-cup-2026-opening-ceremony-86275
PINKVILLA — Katy Perry, Future, BLACKPINK’s Lisa and more to headline 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremonyhttps://www.pinkvilla.com/sports-life/katy-perry-future-blackpinks-lisa-and-more-to-headline-2026-fifa-world-cup-opening-ceremony-1402916
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