Shakira is preparing for another milestone in her long relationship with the FIFA World Cup, this time as one of the headlining performers at the tournament’s first-ever halftime show during the World Cup Final. Speaking ahead of the event, the Colombian superstar said the performance will be “pretty historic” as she joins Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Coldplay for the landmark production.

Scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium on July 19, the 11-minute halftime show marks a new chapter for FIFA, introducing a Super Bowl-style musical spectacle to the World Cup Final for the first time. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is curating the performance, bringing together artists from different generations and musical backgrounds for what is expected to be one of the most ambitious live entertainment events in football history.

For Shakira, returning to the World Cup stage carries special significance. She previously performed at the tournament’s opening ceremony and explained that she now wants the final performance to offer audiences something different.

“I played at the inauguration, and now I’m playing at the final,” she said during a radio interview. “I’ve got to wrap my head around it, make it a little different from what I did at the inauguration.”

The singer also admitted that, despite the star-studded lineup, many details of the performance are still coming together.

“We’ll all get together and we’ll all figure it out how it’s gonna be,” she said, adding that she is just as curious as fans to see how the collaboration unfolds. She also expressed hope that Chris Martin will join the performers onstage rather than remaining solely behind the scenes as the show’s curator.

The World Cup has played a defining role throughout Shakira’s career. Her connection to the tournament dates back to 2010 with “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Written by Shakira alongside John Hill and featuring South African group Freshlyground, the song blends pop, Afro-fusion, and world music influences while incorporating elements inspired by the Cameroonian track “Zangaléwa.”

Upon its release, “Waka Waka” became one of the most recognizable World Cup songs ever recorded. It topped charts across numerous countries and has accumulated billions of streams and video views over the years. Beyond its commercial success, the song became closely associated with the optimism, celebration, and global unity that define the tournament, helping cement Shakira’s status as one of football’s most closely linked musical ambassadors.

More recently, Shakira has continued that connection with “Dai Dai,” her latest World Cup anthem, which has enjoyed strong chart success and reinforced her ongoing relationship with FIFA’s biggest competition.

Although fans have yet to learn exactly which songs will be included in the halftime show, the combination of artists promises an unusually diverse musical experience. Madonna brings decades of pop history, BTS represents one of the world’s biggest music groups, Justin Bieber continues to be a global pop force, while Coldplay has become known for visually spectacular stadium performances. Together with Shakira, the lineup spans multiple genres and generations.

 

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Whether the performance features classic hits, new collaborations, or specially arranged medleys remains unknown. However, Shakira’s comments suggest the artists are approaching the event as a unique collaboration rather than a series of separate performances.

With the World Cup Final already one of the world’s most-watched sporting events, the introduction of an official halftime show adds another layer to the global spectacle. For Shakira, whose career has been intertwined with football’s biggest stage for more than 15 years, participating in this historic first represents another memorable chapter in a remarkable journey.

Source: Compiled from various sources