Bangladeshi-origin singer, music producer and DJ Sanjoy Deb performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening celebrations in Toronto, Canada, on 12 June, incorporating symbols of Bangladesh into his costume while appearing before a global audience at BMO Stadium during the tournament festivities.
Sanjoy Deb joined Canadian artist Nora Fatehi and French hip-hop artist Vegedream to perform ‘Siir Siir’, a song produced as part of FIFA’s World Cup celebrations.
While the performance drew international attention, viewers in Bangladesh and the diaspora focused on the details of his outfit, which prominently reflected his heritage.
The sleeves of his jacket featured designs inspired by the Bengal tiger of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh’s national flower, the water lily and elements of the red-and-green national flag.
During the performance, he repeatedly gestured towards the designs, drawing attention to the symbolic references and creating a moment that resonated with Bangladeshi audiences worldwide.
Sanjoy later shared a video clip of the performance on Facebook, where it quickly went viral, gaining more than six million views within 10 hours, along with nearly 350,000 reactions, around 10,000 shares and more than 4,000 comments.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico. Sanjoy appeared during the Canadian segment of the opening celebrations on 12 June, following the official tournament opening on June 11.
Sanjoy was born on December 18, 1991 in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar and later moved to the US with his family. He grew up in San Jose, California, and studied at Evergreen Valley High School, De Anza College and San Jose State University. Although he completed his studies in business, he pursued music and sound production as his main career path.
Now based in Los Angeles, he has built an international career as an electronic music producer. Alongside executive producer Kunal Agarwal, he has worked on several notable projects. His works include ‘Shangri-La’, which appeared on US music charts, ‘Iewf (Obvi)’ with former American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin in 2017, ‘One in a Million’ with SOuth-Korean boy band Got7 member Mark Tuan in 2021, and contributions as a songwriter and producer on tracks from Indian singer Guru Randhawa’s 2022 album ‘Man of the Moon’.
His official World Cup track, ‘Siir Siir’, released on FIFA’s official YouTube channel on June 8, has also gained significant international attention, with millions of views within days and positive responses from football fans across social media platforms.
Following his appearance at the World Cup ceremony, Sanjoy shared an emotional message on his verified Facebook page: “As the child of immigrants, going from a home studio to the biggest stage in the world is an unbelievable feeling. This is not just my personal achievement. It represents young people who grow up between two cultures while holding on to their dreams. I am representing my roots on the world’s biggest stage.”
His family roots trace back to Sunamganj. He is the grandson of the late Dr Dhirendra Deb Chowdhury, a respected physician from the Hasannagar area of Sunamganj municipality. His mother, Mita Deb, comes from a culturally known family in the district and was also involved in music, which influenced his early connection to the arts.
Former Sunamganj public prosecutor Khairul Kabir Rumen said the achievement was a source of pride for the district. “Mita Deb was our college classmate. Seeing her son perform at the World Cup opening ceremony is a matter of pride not only for the family but for all of Sunamganj. Bangladesh may not be playing in the World Cup, but a son of Bangladesh is performing on the world stage, which is also a great honour,” he said.
According to reports, Sanjoy prepared several thousand jackets featuring motifs inspired by Bangladesh’s red-and-green flag and the Royal Bengal Tiger for the World Cup celebrations, reflecting his continued connection to his heritage and homeland.
