Nigerian music star joins Shakira as FIFA introduces its first-ever World Cup final halftime performance during Spain’s victory over Argentina
Nigerian Grammy-winning artiste Burna Boy captivated a global audience on Sunday after headlining the Burna Boy FIFA halftime show, joining Colombian superstar Shakira in the first-ever halftime entertainment staged during a FIFA World Cup final.
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The landmark performance took place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the interval of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift football’s biggest prize.
Burna Boy and Shakira performed the tournament’s official anthem, Dai, Dai, bringing the curtain down on an ambitious entertainment production that marked a significant departure from the traditional format of FIFA World Cup finals.
The duo had earlier featured during the tournament’s opening ceremony, but the halftime performance included a fresh visual element as Uganda’s Ghetto Kids joined them with energetic choreography, adding colour and rhythm to the historic occasion.
The spectacle also featured global music icon Madonna, who opened the halftime entertainment after a goalless first half, before Canadian pop star Justin Bieber delivered an acoustic performance of Everything Hallelujah.
Football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho further delighted supporters by driving onto the pitch to loud applause from the capacity crowd.
The Brazilian greats, members of the country’s 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, remained visible throughout the tournament despite Brazil’s round-of-16 elimination.
Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the show lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds, extending well beyond the traditional 15-minute halftime interval normally observed in FIFA competitions under International Football Association Board regulations.
The introduction of an extended halftime show formed part of FIFA’s broader efforts to modernise its flagship tournament, alongside other innovations introduced during the 2026 competition.
While many fans welcomed the entertainment, others questioned whether such changes should alter the rhythm of football’s biggest match.
Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo, who analysed the final for Sporty TV, backed the concept but cautioned against allowing entertainment to overshadow the game itself.
“I would love to see more of it as long as it doesn’t eat into the stipulated duration of the game,” Yobo said.
Former England striker Ian Wright also reacted light-heartedly to the event, joking that “Ronaldinho’s tracksuit looked massive,” while former Manchester United captain Roy Keane admitted the performance fell short of his expectations.
“It was a bit of an anti-climax, but listen, it’s so nice to see Shakira,” Keane said.
For Burna Boy, the appearance represented another milestone in a career that has increasingly transcended music to place Nigerian and African culture on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Having performed at major international sporting events in recent years, the singer’s inclusion in FIFA’s inaugural World Cup final halftime show reinforced his status as one of Africa’s most influential global entertainers.
Also read: Shakira and Burna Boy make World Cup history as Dai Dai hits 100 million views
The historic performance also reflected football’s growing embrace of large-scale entertainment, opening a new chapter for the World Cup as FIFA explores ways to broaden the tournament’s appeal while balancing tradition with innovation.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
