Overview
- Sheeran made an unannounced guest appearance at the Pokémon World Championships closing ceremony on Sunday at the Chase Center, opening with his 2022 song “Celestial” and following with an acoustic rendition of the original Pokémon anime theme.
- Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara used the same closing event to announce a new animated film titled Pokémon Wild Card, a Disney+ stop‑motion series called Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, and Singapore as host of the 2027 World Championships.
- Organizers canceled a popular pin giveaway earlier on Sunday after massive crowds created safety concerns, and the San Francisco Fire Department said it did not order the cancellation.
- Reports say six crew members were injured during load‑out after Sheeran’s Detroit concert on Saturday, with two adults taken to hospital in reportedly serious condition.
- Sheeran’s surprise set builds on his ongoing ties to the franchise—his song “Celestial” has appeared in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and received a Toby Fox remix—and highlights how the annual Worlds event serves as a platform for major Pokémon announcements and fan engagement.