The second of three opening ceremonies at this expanded World Cup brought glitz and glamour, but also the chaos that has come to define this edition of the tournament. Canada's turn to showcase itself saw Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé take the stage at Toronto Stadium, though the on-field entertainment was not the only talking point.
BBC Coverage Sparks Fury
Much of the discussion during the ceremony revolved around UK viewers being unable to watch it. Despite the BBC stating the show would be accessible on BBC Sport and iPlayer from 6:30pm, many Brits described an almost impossible process of finding the link. Those who succeeded had no commentary or graphics to identify performers.
To make matters worse, when official coverage began, the BBC opted for in-studio punditry instead of showing the ceremony live, drawing ire on social media. One user wrote: "Ten mins to kickoff, opening ceremony at the World Cup and the BBC are... talking over it and cutting away?" Another said: "Anyone know how we can watch the Canada World Cup opening ceremony in the UK? BBC coverage doesn't appear to start until 7pm and it starts at 6:30pm," before adding: "I would have quite liked to watch Michael Bublé at the Canada World Cup Opening Ceremony, BBC...!"
Giant Animal Puppets Impress
For those who managed to tune in, the giant animal puppets were a highlight. A huge moose, polar bears, and an impressive whale were carried around the stadium, with users online describing the scene as "powerful" and "beautiful." The display was reportedly designed to offer a welcome from Canada's Indigenous Nations "on the world stage."
Empty Seats Haunt FIFA
It wasn't just in the UK where people seemed unable to watch the ceremony; in Canada, many fans were also unable or unwilling to make it into the ground on time. Rows of empty seats could be seen around the stadium for much of the event, images likely to haunt FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is already battling criticism over ticket prices and local fan disinterest. The issues follow similar scenes at South Korea vs. Czechia, which saw thousands of empty seats.
One user wrote: "Empty seats at a home game for a host nation. Fair play FIFA. Everyone said it was impossible to ruin the World Cup, but you've managed it. Respect."
Passionate Fans Bring Flares and Noise
While the ceremony wasn't top of the agenda for some fans, nobody could knock the passion of Bosnia and Canada supporters, with crazy footage emerging of their pre-match antics. Flares blew smoke across Toronto streets, while fans banged drums and chanted for hours on their way to the match. One user wrote of the travelling Bosnia fans: "That's a seriously impressive number of fans. Warms your heart." Another commented on Canada's supporters: "Never seen the like, incredible."
Musical Performances Shine
Much of the post-ceremony chat centred on the two Canadian heavyweights who performed: Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. Bublé, 50, stood in the centre circle to perform his 2022 track "Bring It On Home To Me," while Morissette appeared just before kick-off to perform the Canadian national anthem. Both were met with a raucous response from the home crowd, with users online congratulating their performances as "very good." One fan joked: "Alanis Morissette is looking well. If Canada lost today, wouldn't it be ironic." The Toronto crowd also saw performances from fellow Canadians Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, and country singer William Prince.
