Canadian-born global star Nora Fatehi says her performance at Toronto’s FIFA World Cup opening ceremony will celebrate diversity, unity, and multicultural representation as the world turns its attention to Canada’s biggest sporting stage.
The Toronto-raised performer, who built an international career in India’s film industry, will perform her official FIFA World Cup anthem Siir Siir ahead of Canada’s opening match on Friday.
Inspired by a popular Moroccan football chant meaning “go, go,” Fatehi hopes the song becomes a rallying cry for fans from every nation competing in the tournament.
“This is the time where we see everyone from across the world come and take centre stage,” Fatehi said. “It’s a celebration of talent, culture, music, and football.”
The performance carries special significance for the artist, who left Toronto at age 22 to pursue opportunities in India and has since become one of Bollywood’s most recognizable international stars.
Calling the moment “surreal,” Fatehi said returning home to perform at a World Cup hosted in Canada represents a powerful full-circle moment in her career.
“It’s a story of resilience and ambition,” she said. “I want people to see that if you dare to dream and work hard, incredible things can happen.”
The energetic track was created alongside French-Ivorian artist Vegedream and Canadian producer Sanjoy. Featuring lyrics in Moroccan Darija, Arabic, French, and English, the song reflects the multicultural spirit of both football and Fatehi’s own journey.
Fatehi said the inspiration came while watching thousands of Moroccan supporters chant “Siir Siir” during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Not surprisingly, she will be cheering for her ancestral homeland during the tournament.
“I have a feeling Morocco is going to do something great this World Cup,” she said, praising the team’s resilience and recent rise on the international stage.
Fatehi joins a star-studded FIFA World Cup soundtrack featuring artists such as Shakira, Burna Boy, Stormzy, The Rolling Stones and Future.
As Toronto prepares to host its first FIFA World Cup match, Fatehi’s performance is expected to showcase Canada’s multicultural identity to a global audience of millions, combining music, culture, and sport on one of the world’s biggest stages.
