Shakira, Burna Boy gear up for historic FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show ahead of Spain vs Argentina final
New York, July 18
As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy have offered fans a behind-the-scenes look at their final rehearsal sessions for what will be FIFA's first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show.
The international artists, who previously performed together during the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City, reunited on the pitch this week to fine-tune their performance before Sunday's showpiece event.
Sharing a glimpse of the preparations on social media, Shakira posted a rehearsal photograph with Burna Boy and wrote, "Getting ready for Sunday! @burnaboygram See you at the @fifaworldcup Final! Dai dai, iko, dale, allez, let's go."
The post quickly generated widespread engagement, attracting more than a million likes and thousands of supportive comments. Among those responding were the Ghetto Kids, who are also scheduled to take part in the halftime spectacle.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will also mark a significant moment in the tournament's history with the introduction of its first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime entertainment.
The production is expected to feature multiple artists and extend beyond the traditional 15-minute interval.
Shakira and Burna Boy are set to perform "Dai Dai", the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The track serves as a global anthem promoting unity while supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The halftime lineup is expected to include Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus accompanied by Coldplay, as well as appearances by characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets to spotlight the education initiative.
The entertainment programme will take place between the two halves of the World Cup final, where defending champions Argentina face Spain in a highly anticipated title clash.
Argentina reached the final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semifinal. After falling behind in the first half, Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner to book Argentina's place in the championship match, ending England's hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.
Spain, meanwhile, secured a 2-0 victory over France to reach their first FIFA World Cup final since their 2010 triumph. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Lamine Yamal won a spot-kick, while Pedro Porro doubled the advantage after the break following a move involving Dani Olmo.
Spain's defence held firm despite late pressure from France, sealing their sixth clean sheet in seven matches and earning the nation's second-ever World Cup final appearance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who grew up watching World Cup finals on Doordarshan, this is mind-blowing. 🏆 The lineup includes BTS, Madonna, Coldplay, Sesame Street characters... it's like a music festival and football match combined! I just hope they don't overshadow the actual game. Argentina vs Spain is a dream final - two footballing giants with amazing history. Shakira's "Waka Waka" was iconic, and "Dai Dai" sounds like it could be the next global anthem. Bring on Sunday! ✨
Brilliant idea for education fund! 📚 But I'm a bit skeptical about the length - halftime shows in football are only 15 minutes traditionally. With so many artists (Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, Coldplay), it might eat into the second half or delay the restart. Remember what happened with the Super Bowl? Players get cold and lose rhythm. Hope FIFA has planned it well. Still, Shakira and Burna Boy are 🔥 and the Ghetto Kids inclusion is heartwarming! 🇮🇳
Seeing Sesame Street and The Muppets alongside FIFA is the crossover I never knew I needed! 😂 In all seriousness, using the World Cup to promote education is wonderful. India has 1.5 million children out of school - we need similar initiatives for cricket too. As for the final, Spain's defense is incredible (6 clean sheets in 7 matches!), but Argentina has Messi and that magical spirit. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez are clutch. Can't wait! 🇮🇳⚡
As an Indian living in the US, I'm planning to watch this with American friends who are more into NFL than football. This halftime show might finally get them to appreciate the beautiful game! 😅 But honestly, I'm more excited about Spain's Lamine Yamal - that kid is special. And Argentina's
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