When the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the spotlight was firmly on some of the world’s biggest stars. Yet one of the evening’s most memorable and heartfelt moments belonged not to a global celebrity, but to a 10-year-old boy from Norway named Tius Luka.
Joining Katy Perry on stage, Tius performed the song “Wonder” in front of more than 70,000 fans inside the stadium and a television audience of millions around the world. For the young singer, it marked his first appearance on a stage of such international scale.
Who Is Tius Luka?
Tius Luka was born and raised in Norway in a family where music has always been part of everyday life. His father, Kent Sundberg, is a member of the popular Norwegian band Donkeyboy, one of the country’s most recognizable pop acts for more than a decade.
Surrounded by musical instruments, recording equipment, and a creative environment at home, Tius took his first steps into singing from an early age. His parents never set professional expectations for him or tried to turn him into a child star. Instead, they allowed his interest in music to develop naturally.
“We just wanted him to enjoy it,” his father told Norwegian media following the announcement of Tius’s performance with Katy Perry.
The Recording That Changed Everything
The story that ultimately brought Tius to the stage alongside a global superstar began back in 2021.
At the time, the five-year-old recorded a short vocal piece in his family’s home studio. For the family, it was simply a creative experiment—one that could easily have remained a treasured personal memory.
Two years later, however, that recording found its way to Katy Perry. The singer was captivated by the purity of the young boy’s voice and decided to build an entire song around it. According to Perry, the voice of the young Norwegian singer became the inspiration and starting point for what would eventually become “Wonder.”
From a Home Studio to the Global Stage
As the story behind “Wonder” continued to unfold, Tius gradually began building a following on social media.
Together with his father, he regularly shared music videos featuring performances of well-known songs. His covers of classic hits—including “The Sound of Silence”—drew particular attention from audiences online. His sincerity, natural vocal style, and genuine love of music resonated with listeners far beyond Norway’s borders.
Despite his growing popularity, the family continued to treat music as a passion rather than a career, ensuring that Tius’s childhood remained centered on exploration and enjoyment rather than constant professional pressure.
The Call from Katy Perry
The invitation to perform at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony came unexpectedly, just weeks before the event.
Communication between Katy Perry’s team and Tius’s family was facilitated through Norwegian producers Stargate, longtime collaborators with some of the music industry’s biggest international artists. For Tius, the opportunity meant traveling to the United States and performing before a truly global audience for the very first time.
During the performance at SoFi Stadium, the young singer delivered the opening and closing sections of “Wonder,” while Katy Perry performed the song’s main verses. Their duet quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the opening ceremony.
Talent Thrives with Support
Tius Luka’s story is a reminder that remarkable achievements often begin with small steps. Not with multimillion-dollar contracts or television competitions, but with a supportive home environment where children are encouraged to explore their interests and develop their natural abilities.
Today, Tius is only ten years old. A long journey still lies ahead, and no one can predict exactly what his future in music will look like. Yet his story has already become an example of how talent, family support, and an unexpected opportunity can come together to create a moment witnessed by the entire world.
In June 2026, a boy from Drammen, Norway—who once sang alongside his father in a home studio—stepped onto the stage of the FIFA World Cup in front of tens of thousands of spectators and millions of viewers around the globe. For Tius Luka, the story is only just beginning.