By Ezeana Emmanuel
Davido will headline FIFA’s official Countdown Concert at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on June 10, one day before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
FIFA confirmed the Nigerian superstar and electronic group Major Lazer as the first acts for the US leg. Doors open 5pm PT, with the live broadcast starting 6pm PT. Tickets dropped June 3 at 10am PST.
The LA show is one piece of a three-city event across all World Cup host nations. While Davido and Major Lazer take the stage in Los Angeles, fans in Toronto and Mexico City will tune in to the same broadcast. Bryan Adams, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, AHI and Wyclef Jean are set for Canada. Los Ángeles Azules, Belinda and Elena Rose will perform in Mexico City.
The Recording Academy, the team behind the Grammys, partnered with FIFA to create the tri-city format. The idea is to connect football, music and culture across Canada, Mexico and the US ahead of the tournament’s opening match on June 12.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Tournament Officer Manolo Zubiria called it a celebration of “passion, unity and cultural connections across three countries and around the world.”
Picking Davido for one of football’s biggest pre-tournament stages shows how far he’s come. Born David Adeleke in Atlanta and raised in Lagos, he broke out in 2011 with “Back When” and has since built one of Afrobeats’ most decorated catalogs. His 2022 album _Timeless_ hit No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart, and his tours have sold out arenas across Europe, North America and Africa. He’s worked with Chris Brown, Young Thug, Summer Walker and others, and has been one of the genre’s main voices breaking into the global mainstream.
Davido’s announcement caps a big week for Nigerian artists worldwide. Rema will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony on June 12. Burna Boy is on Shakira’s “DaiJai,” the official tournament anthem. Ayra Starr is also rumored for the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album on “Show Me” with Latto. FIFA says artists from that album could show up at more Countdown Concerts still to be announced.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs June 11 to July 19, with games across cities in the US, Canada and Mexico.
