Wyclef Jean to perform at FIFA World Cup Toronto countdown concert 

NEW YORK — Haitian star Wyclef Jean will perform at FIFA’s World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Toronto on June 10, joining an international lineup of artists helping launch celebrations ahead of the world soccer body’s largest tournament in history.

FIFA announced Thursday that the Grammy-winning Haitian artist will appear in a special collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Ahkinoah Habah Izarh, also known as AHI, during the concert at the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto, hosted at Fort York and The Bentway.

The event is part of FIFA’s coordinated Countdown Concert series taking place across Canada, Mexico and the United States exactly one year before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Toronto’s concert lineup also includes Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams, Moroccan-Canadian artist Nora Fatehi, alongside Bangladeshi–American musician, producer and DJ Sanjoy Deb and French-Ivorian singer-songwriter Satchela Evrard Djedje, also known as Vegedream. FIFA said additional artists and special guests will be announced later.

Celebrating diversity in one of Haitian immigrant-heavy cities  

The concert will celebrate Toronto’s cultural diversity, one of North America’s most multicultural cities and one of Canada’s host cities for the 2026 tournament. 

The city is home to approximately 25,000 people of Haitian descent, according to the community organization Haitians of Toronto. While Montreal is home to Canada’s largest Haitian community, with nearly 200,000 Haitians, Toronto has the second-largest. 

“Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant cities in the world, making it the perfect stage for this first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert,” Peter Montopoli, FIFA competition operations director for Canada, said in a statement to FIFA Media.

“Bringing together world-renowned artists, football fans and communities from across the country powerfully reflects the energy, passion and multicultural spirit that Canada will be showcasing to the world throughout the tournament,” Montopoli added.

The June 10 event is expected to blend music, soccer and fan culture ahead of Canada’s first matches in the expanded 48-team World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Jean’s participation adds a Haitian presence to one of FIFA’s largest entertainment events tied to the tournament buildup. The former Fugees member has long been one of Haiti’s most internationally recognized artists, often using music and public appearances to spotlight Haitian culture on the global stage. 

With Les Grenadiers qualifying for this year’s World Cup, fans like Gilson Morusma from Florida think Jean’s performance in Toronto will certainly resonate in Haiti and abroad, amplifying the country’s positive visibility even more. 

“This is good for the country in need of a positive narrative,” said Morusma, 39, an electrician based in North Miami Beach.

“Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant cities in the world, making it the perfect stage for this first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert.”

Peter Montopoli, FIFA Competition Operations Director for Canada 

“In previous tournaments, Wyclef featured, showcasing Haiti through his music. This time, Haiti will participate in the entire party with its soccer talent as well.”

The concert will be broadcast live worldwide from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST on FIFA’s digital and broadcast platforms. TikTok will serve as the exclusive social media streaming partner for the live event.

FIFA said additional Countdown Concert announcements for host cities in Mexico and the United States will be released on June 1 and June 2.

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