Israeli-Arab artist Elyanna from Nazareth performs at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony

The Israeli-Arab vocalist delivered an energetic performance with strong vocals. She stands as the sole Middle Eastern artist on the official FIFA soundtrack.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - June 12, 2026 Elyanna performs during the opening ceremony before the match.

(photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/John E Sokolowski)

ByYOAV ETIEL

JUNE 13, 2026 16:02

Elyanna, the 24-year-old vocalist born and raised in Nazareth, appeared at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Canada on Thursday evening, joining Canadian performer Jessie Reyez for the track Illuminate, an official song for the tournament.

The show unfolded at Toronto's BMO Field just before Canada's first game versus Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In attire reflecting varied cultural elements, Elyanna offered a lively routine with lively dance moves and commanding vocals. Global press reports highlighted that she is the only performer of Middle Eastern or North African heritage on FIFA's official soundtrack.

Born Elian Amer Marjieh on January 22, 2002, in Nazareth, Israel, Elyanna was raised in a Christian Israeli household in the nation's biggest Arab community.

Music formed a key part of her childhood. Her mother's father sang Lebanese folk poetry called zajal, and her father's mother, a pianist from Chile, influenced the mix of cultures that shaped her later work.

Elyanna headlines FIFA opening ceremony

She started singing at age seven and took cues from figures such as Umm Kulthum, Sabah Fakhri, Beyonce, and Aretha Franklin. In 2017, when she was 15, she relocated with her family to the United States, initially to San Diego and then to Los Angeles to build a global music career.

Once in the US, she was spotted by Canadian producer Nasri Atweh, signed to Universal Arabic Music, and crafted a unique style mixing Arabic sounds with pop, R&B, and Latin beats. She calls this approach experimental Arab pop.

Elyanna has reached several key achievements. In 2023 she became the first artist to deliver a complete Arabic set at Coachella. She has also performed with Coldplay and appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2024 she issued her first album, Woledto, meaning I Was Born in Arabic.

She often emphasizes her Palestinian-Chilean roots, calling herself Your Pali girl. Her time growing up in Nazareth continues to anchor her narrative, the place where she discovered her sound and first imagined performing worldwide.

The track Illuminate, which she wrote with Reyez, who has Colombian heritage, mixes English and Arabic words. Its theme of cultural ties and common identity echoes Elyanna's personal background and creative path.

Her appearance at the World Cup opening drew broad notice on social platforms and formed part of a wider tribute to cultural variety. The program also included Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, Alessia Cara, and other artists.