On July 19, 2026, the sound of Afrobeats echoed across the biggest stage in world football. Nigerian superstar Burna Boy made history as the first Nigerian and first African artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup final halftime show, sharing the spotlight with Shakira on the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai” at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The performance marked a cultural milestone for Nigeria and for African music, placing Afrobeats at the center of a spectacle watched by billions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
A Super Bowl-Style First For The World Cup
FIFA introduced a halftime show for the first time in World Cup final history, adopting the entertainment format popularized by the NFL’s Super Bowl. The 11-minute production was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and staged during the match in East Rutherford, New York.
The lineup was built for global reach. Pop icon Madonna opened the show with “Music” in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. K-pop group BTS performed “Dynamite“. Justin Bieber delivered an acoustic “Everything Hallelujah” introduced by Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt.Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and Coldplay also featured. The finale belonged to Shakira and Burna Boy.
“Dai Dai“: The Soundtrack of 2026
Burna Boy and Shakira closed the halftime show performing “Dai Dai“, the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The track, released on May 15, 2026 through Sony Music Latin and Ace Entertainment, fuses Afrobeats with Latin rhythms. The title, borrowed from Italian, means “come on, come on”.
It was not their first time on stage together. The pair had already debuted “Dai Dai” at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11. Shakira wore a custom Roberto Cavalli ensemble with over 200,000 Swarovski crystals for the final performance, while Ugandan dancers joined them on pitch.
For Shakira, it was her fourth World Cup appearance, following “Hips Don’t Lie” in 2006, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in 2010, and “La La La” in 2014.
For Burna Boy, it was a first, and a historic one.
“A Privilege and a Responsibility“
Reacting to the announcement and the performance, Burna Boy called it both an honor and a duty.”The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together. To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” he said. “I’m honoured to be part of a performance that not only celebrates football and culture but also helps create greater opportunities for children through education around the world“.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the show was designed to “connect soccer, music and education”. Proceeds supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for access to education and football for children worldwide. Shakira donated 100 percent of her royalties from “Dai Dai” to the fund, which had raised $60 million over the course of the tournament.
Why This Moment Matters For Afrobeats
Burna Boy’s inclusion broadens the musical diversity of the halftime show, bringing Afrobeats alongside pop, Latin music and K-pop. It continues a breakout year for Nigerian music on football’s biggest stage.
Music has always been part of the World Cup, but it was previously limited to opening and closing ceremonies. By adding Burna Boy to a lineup with Madonna, BTS, Bieber and Shakira, FIFA signaled that African pop is now central to the tournament’s global storytelling.
The halftime show was billed as “the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid” and “the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history“. Infantino predicted “a couple of billion” people would tune in.
From Lagos to The World Stage
The performance capped a remarkable run for Burna Boy. The Grammy-winning artist has already broken records as the African artist with the most Billboard Hot 100 entries and most monthly listeners on Spotify. Now he adds World Cup history to that resume.
For Nigeria, the moment was celebrated as more than entertainment. It was recognition that Afrobeats, a sound born in Lagos clubs, has become part of the global cultural lexicon. Sharing the stage with Shakira, who first brought the world “Waka Waka” for Africa in 2010, Burna Boy helped pass the torch to a new generation of African artists.
As the word “LOVE” lit up the pitch with an image of the Earth replacing the “O”, the message was clear. Football unites. Music unites. And on this night, Afrobeats helped lead the world in song.
