A Historic First for the World Cup
The 2026 final between Spain and Argentina introduced a major change to one of football’s most traditional events: a dedicated halftime entertainment show inspired partly by the scale of the Super Bowl.
The 11-minute production brought together Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and several surprise guests. Madonna opened the show, BTS performed “Dynamite,” and Bieber delivered an acoustic number before Shakira and Burna Boy raised the energy with “Dai Dai.”
For Shakira, however, the performance represented more than another celebrity appearance. Few artists have become as closely associated with World Cup culture.
She first performed at the tournament in 2006 and later created “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for the 2010 competition in South Africa. That song became one of the most internationally recognizable football anthems of the modern era. She returned for the 2014 tournament in Brazil, further establishing herself as an unofficial musical symbol of the World Cup.
Her participation in 2026 therefore felt less like a comeback than the continuation of a long-running relationship between her music and international football.
“Dai Dai” Connects Latin and African Pop
Shakira performed “Dai Dai” with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, creating a collaboration built around two of the most globally influential contemporary music regions: Latin America and Africa.
The track was selected as the official song of the 2026 World Cup and was designed to reflect the tournament’s international identity. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the expanded competition brought together 48 national teams and an unusually broad collection of cultures, languages and musical traditions.
Shakira’s presence gave the song an immediate connection to previous tournaments, while Burna Boy introduced an Afrobeats influence that reflected the genre’s rapid global expansion.
During the final performance, the pair appeared amid dancers, large-scale field projections and a giant visual display built around the word “LOVE.” The production emphasized unity and celebration rather than the identity of any single host country.
A Fashion Tribute to Her World Cup Legacy
Shakira also used her costume to reference her earlier World Cup history.
Working with Roberto Cavalli creative director Fausto Puglisi, she wore a custom orange-and-pink outfit featuring dramatic cutouts, a flowing skirt and more than 200,000 hand-applied crystals. The bright colors and movement of the design recalled the visual energy of her 2010 “Waka Waka” performance.
The styling turned the appearance into a full-circle moment. Sixteen years after helping define the musical identity of the South Africa tournament, Shakira returned to a more commercialized and highly produced version of the World Cup stage.
Her performance demonstrated how much the event—and her own career—has evolved. In 2010, World Cup musical performances were largely attached to opening or closing ceremonies. In 2026, Shakira appeared in a halftime spectacle positioned as a standalone global entertainment event.
The Show Divides Football Audiences
The introduction of a major halftime production was not universally welcomed.
Some viewers praised the collection of international performers and the scale of the event. Others argued that the rapid movement between artists made the show feel fragmented and prevented individual performances from developing naturally. Several commentators also questioned whether a Super Bowl-style production belonged in a football final.
Although the musical section lasted approximately 11 minutes, the complete halftime interval reportedly extended to around 27 minutes because of staging and production requirements. The longer break became part of a wider debate about player preparation, football tradition and FIFA’s growing focus on entertainment.
Shakira’s portion nevertheless emerged as one of the show’s more energetic moments. After a program that moved between pop, acoustic music, orchestral arrangements and comedy, “Dai Dai” restored a festival-like atmosphere before the match resumed.
Music With a Social Purpose
The halftime show was also connected to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative seeking to expand access to education and football programs for children around the world.
Global Citizen reported after the final that the fund had surpassed $60 million. It had provided grants to 58 community organizations across 20 countries, with programs expected to affect approximately 400,000 children. One dollar from every World Cup ticket was allocated to the initiative, while Shakira’s royalties from “Dai Dai” were also being donated to the fund.
That mission has particular relevance to Shakira. Education has been a central part of her philanthropic work for decades, especially through projects supporting children in Colombia.
Her participation allowed FIFA and Global Citizen to connect the performance with an artist whose public identity already extends beyond music and entertainment. The education campaign was not simply added to her appearance; it aligned naturally with causes she has supported throughout her career.
Why Shakira Remains a Global Event Artist
The World Cup appearance demonstrated Shakira’s unusual ability to move between several audiences at once.
For longtime followers, her performance evoked memories of “Waka Waka” and earlier stages of her career. For younger listeners, “Dai Dai” positioned her alongside Burna Boy and within a contemporary global pop landscape shaped increasingly by Latin music and Afrobeats. For football fans, she remained a familiar figure whose songs have accompanied multiple generations of World Cup memories.
Her longevity is especially significant in an industry where international attention can shift rapidly. Shakira has continued to adapt her sound, visual presentation and collaborations without abandoning the musical identity that originally made her a global star.
The 2026 halftime show may continue to generate debate about FIFA’s transformation of football into a broader entertainment product. Yet Shakira’s place within that spectacle was difficult to dispute.
More than 20 years after her first World Cup performance, she once again stood at the intersection of music, sport and international culture. “Dai Dai” may be the tournament’s newest anthem, but Shakira’s enduring presence was the clearest reminder that some artists do not simply perform at global events—they become part of their history.