Michael Buble launched the World Cup in Toronto amid an electrifying atmosphere on Friday, before Alanis Morissette delivered a moving rendition of the Canadian national anthem before thousands of fans.
The excitement was ramping up before the first game against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Shakira wowed fans with her performance at the opening ceremony in Mexico Thursday
Protesters attempt to breach the Mexico City Stadium but are stopped by a line of riot police on Thursday
A demonstrator waves a stick in front of riot police during violent scenes outside the stadium on the first day of the tournament in Mexico
There was no sign of the same trouble marring events in Canada on Friday afternoon as Buble’s glitzy performance got underway.
Remarkably, Fox, the host broadcaster in the United States, skipped most of Buble’s performance, showing only a shorter version to American soccer fans. They did the same for Shakira’s performance in Mexico on Thursday.
Later on Friday, the tournament finally begins on American soil when the USA team meets Paraguay in Los Angeles.
That opening ceremony is headlined by Katy Perry – who is dating former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – while hip-hop star Future will also feature.
Canada’s team, meanwhile, will play Qatar in the second game next Thursday in Vancouver.
They will round off the group stage against Switzerland on June 24.
