When Football Meets K-Pop: Lisa Set for Historic FIFA World Cup Performance
Lalisa Manobal, known mononymously by her stage name Lisa, is making history as the first Thai artist and the first female KPop artist to perform at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony
FIFA World Cup gears up for one of a kind 23rd edition, this time hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico taking place from June 11th to July 19th 2026.
For the first time FIFA is adopting a never witnessed before Super-bowl halftime style spectacle which anticipates massive entertainment and performances by world renowned artists. Mexico is setting the stage as the country to open the three legged tournament that will continue across Canada and the USA. In partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, each ceremony is attached by a shared creative concept that reconceptualises the FIFA World Cup trophy through the eyes of each host countries’ culture. Papel Picado , a significant and powerful symbol of tradition, joy and craftsmanship is the theme brought to life in Mexico through the detailed celebration of art.
Lalisa Manobal, known mononymously by her stage name Lisa, is making history as the first Thai artist and the first female KPop artist to perform at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. The performance is to take place on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, USA. It will take place during the opening celebrations just before the match between the US and Paraguay. Lisa will be performing alongside global megastars Katy Perry, Future and Anitta, to name a few.
To take a look back, in 2023, Lisa gave dynamic performances as part of Blackpink as well as a solo set that broke barriers between KPop and western music festivals. Lisa also delivered a power-packed solo performance at the Global Citizen Festival in 2024. One that went viral was when she graced the stage at the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show delivering a show-stopping solo set. Lisa truly has a history of major solo stages where her solo tracks gave her a global recognition and appreciation.
What does this mean for a female artist from Asia? Lisa is breaking gender barriers by representing female Asian and KPop soloists on the world’s most watched and loved sporting event stage. She proves that demand for Asian acts extends way beyond the traditional group setting. She elevates Thailand’s cultural soft power and provides a significant visibility for Southeast Asian talent in the western dominated mainstream music industry. Her appearance alongside big global names just adds and solidifies the fact that the interactive multi-lingual stars from outside the US or UK can harbour enormous, multi-national sports and entertainment spectacles such as the Fifa world cup.
She is paving the way for girls all around the world who look up to her as a source of inspiration. Lisa’s headline performance for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is more than just a massive musical milestone, it is a defining cultural moment. Lisa shatters geographical and gender boundaries within the entertainment industry. This historic moment is proof of the fact that KPop’s reign is not just a phase or a trend that will eventually pass but a permanent, dominant pillar in global pop culture, with Lisa leading the charge as an unstoppable force.