2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles: Best memes and reactions

Before the action took over the pitch, the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles had social media buzzing. Fans turned the night's biggest moments into memes, jokes and reactions that spread in seconds.

By Ariadna Pinheiro

Updated on June 12, 2026 08:52PM EDT

**© Harry How/Getty Images**Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles had all the ingredients of a blockbuster production: celebrity appearances, elaborate performances and a packed stadium eager to witness the start.

But while organizers aimed to create unforgettable memories, fans online quickly found moments they would never let slide. As clips from the ceremony spread across social media, the reactions came just as fast as the action on the field.

Viewers dissected everything from Katy Perry‘s setlist and Future‘s performance to over-the-top theatrics and unexpected celebrity cameos, turning the event into a goldmine for jokes, memes and viral commentary.

Memes and reactions of the World Cup opening ceremony in LA

Watching the USA opening ceremony for Fifa World Cup. pic.twitter.com/DhT7KAr20j
— Apollo (@Hero_of_Apollo) June 12, 2026

is FIFA SuperBowling the World Cup? didn't we already have an opening ceremony?#usapar
— erulreza (@erulreza) June 12, 2026

Opening ceremony in the US for the World Cup, was terrible!! You could have picked better known artists, what a huge disappointment.#worldcup #fifa #usa @FIFAWorldCup
— Eddie Gomez (@djeze83) June 12, 2026

Lisa has always been creative in both dancing and singing. Some people just have a problem with her and keep saying the song isn't suitable for the World Cup, even though it's an official FIFA song. @wearelloud @FIFAWorldCup
LISA OPENING CEREMONY#LISAXGOALS #LISAxFIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/3chaWb4Lws
— ❤️ (@NUecRUpug0ymOmJ) June 12, 2026

Ariadna Pinheiro

Ariadna is a multisport journalist specialized in delivering key, high-value information across competitions, including tournament formats, rules, lineups and injury updates, while also producing evergreen content. Her career in journalism began in 2021 at Indie Emergente, a digital music magazine, where she honed her skills in writing and reporting. In 2023, she expanded her expertise by contributing to Spoiler Latinoamerica, creating general culture content, before joining Spoiler US in 2024 to focus on entertainment coverage. With almost six years of experience across different media outlets, Ariadna has developed strong expertise at the intersection of sports and entertainment, covering live events such as Super Bowls, FIFA World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, Olympic Games and UEFA Champions League finals, bringing depth, accuracy and real-time insight to her reporting.