David Beckham has been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on a day when soccer and showbiz intermingled at the 2026 World Cup.

Beckham called the ceremony “surreal” as his wife, Victoria, and his friend Tom Cruise praised him at the ceremony. Cruise lauded Beckham’s journey, saying it was “a Hollywood story” of hard work, determination and global influence on sport and culture.

Rather than a traditional Hollywood red carpet, the ceremony featured a green soccer-themed pitch carpet to commemorate the occasion.

“I’ve always been a dreamer, but I could never have imagined that an honor like this would come to a working-class English soccer player like me,” Sir David said.

“How fitting then that I am here today as we prepare to celebrate the opening here in the US of the 2026 World Cup. It’s a powerful moment to recognize how the sport I love so much has grown in this country over the past three decades.”

Beckham , who spent six seasons with LA Galaxy from 2007 and is now the co-owner of Inter Miami, said: “To stand here in front of my friend Tom Cruise, the greatest movie star of our time, is quite frankly mind-blowing.”

He told the actor: “You welcomed us to LA 20 years ago, and you have been a loyal friend and an inspiration to me ever since.”

Beckham and Cruise later joined other celebrities at the Los Angeles Stadium, where a Hollywood-style opening ceremony preceded the United States’s opening game with Paraguay, which they won 4-1. Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Rob Lowe, Owen Wilson and Paris Hilton were among those looking on as performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy in the middle of the pitch.

Donald Trump did not attend, instead speaking to the US team via phone, telling them: “I think you’ve a really good chance of going all the way. I just want to wish you a lot of luck.”

“Welcome to the USA” announced a booming voiceover, as a closeup of the city’s famous Hollywood sign flashed on giant screens at the SoFi Stadium, temporarily renamed the Los Angeles Stadium.

A marching band struck up the music before being joined by singers including Future, Tyla, Anitta and K-pop star Lisa. Costumes and props were designed to evoke Los Angeles street art, and the city’s creative industries.

Katy Perry, who also performed in the opening ceremony, repaired to the seats to watch the action with her partner, the former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Earlier, as Canada began their campaign in Toronto with a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Canadian film stars Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were in the crowd. It was the first ever World Cup game on Canadian soil.

The singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette closed an upbeat opening ceremony with a compelling rendition of O Canada, the national anthem.