With the United States set to open its FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on Friday, fans will gather in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday evening for the FIFA Countdown Concert, a multinational celebration marking the start of the tournament.
The event, presented in collaboration with the Recording Academy, is billed as a first-of-its-kind live concert experience connecting Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City, the three countries co-hosting the expanded 48-team tournament, according to organizers.
The concert will be held Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Headlining the Los Angeles portion of the event are Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido, internationally known for hits including “Fall,” “If” and “Unavailable”; Major Lazer, the electronic music group founded by producer and DJ Diplo and known for global dance hits such as “Lean On” and “Cold Water”; pop singer Ava Max, whose breakthrough single “Sweet but Psycho” topped charts around the world; and rapper BIA, whose songs include “Whole Lotta Money” and collaborations with artists including J. Cole and Nicki Minaj.
Organizers said the concert will feature live performances from all three host nations, along with special appearances and broadcast segments highlighting the cultural connections between Canada, Mexico and the United States as the World Cup gets underway.
Doors at Crypto.com Arena are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Wednesday, with the show beginning at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to experience the full program, including performances and exclusive content originating from the other host cities.
Los Angeles is one of 16 host cities selected for the World Cup and will host multiple matches during the tournament. The first of eight matches at SoFi Stadium is scheduled for Friday.