India, June 13 -- The stadium boards at Toronto's BMO Field hadn't even lit up for kick-off, but the arena was already shaking to a massive homecoming beat. Local girl turned global Bollywood icon Nora Fatehi took centre stage to headline Canada's portion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony.

While millions know her as a Bollywood dance maestro, FIFA specifically selected her to anchor the Toronto kick-off because her roots belong entirely to the host city.

Is Nora Fatehi from Canada?

To understand why this showcase felt so deeply personal, you have to look at Fatehi's background. She was born and raised in Toronto to a Moroccan Canadian family, absorbing the city's diverse, multicultural energy before making the bold choice to ...