Shakira will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium. The Colombian superstar performs alongside Madonna and BTS in an 11-minute set curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. For Shakira, the booking is the latest chapter in a relationship with FIFA that spans 20 years, four tournaments, and the most iconic World Cup song ever recorded.
The 2026 halftime show coincides with the release of “Dai Dai,” her new official FIFA World Cup 2026 song with Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, which dropped on May 14, 2026. This is everything you need to know about Shakira at the World Cup, including her complete FIFA performance history, the Waka Waka phenomenon, and what to expect from her halftime set.
Quick Facts About Shakira at the World Cup 2026
- Show Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
- Co-Headliners: Madonna, BTS
- Curator: Chris Martin (Coldplay)
- Show Length: 11 minutes (split across three headliners)
- Shakira’s FIFA Appearances: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2026)
- New World Cup Song: “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy (released May 14, 2026)
- Previous Official Song: “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (2010)
- Current Tour: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour (highest-grossing tour ever by a Latin artist)
- Grammy Awards: 4
- Latin Grammy Awards: 15
Shakira’s Complete FIFA World Cup History
Shakira holds the record as the first musical act to perform at three consecutive FIFA World Cups, a milestone she achieved in 2014. The 2026 halftime show extends her FIFA legacy to four tournaments across two decades, more than any other performer in World Cup history.
2006 Germany: Hips Don’t Lie at the Closing Ceremony
Shakira’s FIFA debut came at the 2006 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony in Berlin, Germany, where she performed “Hips Don’t Lie” alongside Wyclef Jean and “Bamboo” before the Italy-France final. The performance came just months after “Hips Don’t Lie” had become her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single in June 2006, eventually topping charts in over 55 countries. The Berlin appearance launched what would become a permanent association between Shakira and the World Cup.
2010 South Africa: Waka Waka and the Defining Anthem
The 2010 FIFA World Cup transformed Shakira into the unofficial face of the tournament. FIFA announced on April 26, 2010 that “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” her collaboration with South African band Freshlyground, would serve as the official song of the 2010 World Cup. She performed it at both the opening ceremony on June 10 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto and the closing ceremony on July 11 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg before the Spain-Netherlands final.
The song became a global phenomenon. “Waka Waka” sold 15 million digital downloads worldwide and earned diamond certifications in Brazil, France, Germany, and Sweden. In January 2025, the song was certified by Guinness World Records as the most streamed FIFA World Cup song on Spotify, surpassing one billion streams. The music video has accumulated over 4 billion views on YouTube, making it the 18th-most-watched video in the platform’s history.
2014 Brazil: La La La at the Closing Ceremony
Shakira returned for her third consecutive World Cup at the 2014 closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, 2014. She performed “La La La (Brazil 2014)” with Brazilian percussionist Carlinhos Brown at the Maracanã Stadium before the Germany-Argentina final.
While the song was featured on FIFA’s official 2014 album, the official tournament song that year was “We Are One (Ole Ola)” by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte. Shakira’s appearance made her the first musical act ever to perform at three consecutive FIFA World Cups, a record that still stands.
2026 USA/Canada/Mexico: Dai Dai and the First-Ever Halftime Show
The 2026 booking marks Shakira’s fourth FIFA World Cup appearance and her first halftime show, as the World Cup final has never featured a halftime show until now. Her new song “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy was released on May 14, 2026, and serves as the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song. The teaser clip was filmed at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the same venue where she performed “La La La” 12 years earlier.
About “Dai Dai”: The Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Song
“Dai Dai” was released globally on May 14, 2026 through Sony Music Latin. The nearly four-minute track blends Afrobeats, Latin pop, dance-pop, and reggaetón, reflecting the cultural diversity of the 2026 tournament’s three host nations.
“Dai Dai” is an Italian expression meaning “come on” or “go, go,” used to encourage someone to push forward. The multilingual chorus features the phrase “Dai dai, Ikó, dale, allez, let’s go!”, incorporating Italian, Yoruba, Spanish, French, and English. The lyrics celebrate resilience and ambition, opening with the lines “You knew from the day you were born / That here in this place you belong / You’ve been this brave all along / What broke you once made you strong.”
Football legend name-checks: The song shouts out some of the greatest footballers in history, including Pelé, Diego Maradona, Paolo Maldini, Romário, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaká, Kylian Mbappé, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, and Colombian legend “El Pibe” Carlos Valderrama. Shakira also references participating countries during the chorus, including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and the Netherlands.
Charitable purpose: Royalties from “Dai Dai” support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children’s education and football access. Shakira is donating her royalties from the song to the fund, while Sony Music pledged to match the first $250,000 raised. The 2026 halftime show itself was created as a fundraiser for the same initiative.
About Burna Boy: The Nigerian Afrobeats star is the second Nigerian artist featured on an official FIFA soundtrack after Davido contributed to the 2022 Qatar World Cup with “Hayya Hayya.” In 2021, Burna Boy became the first solo Nigerian artist to win a Grammy Award, taking Best Global Music Album for Twice as Tall. In 2023, he became the first African artist to sell out a US stadium, headlining New York’s Citi Field.
What to Expect From Shakira’s Halftime Show
Shakira brings four decades of stadium performance experience to the World Cup 2026 halftime show, including her 2020 Super Bowl LIV co-headlining slot with Jennifer Lopez. Her segment is expected to run approximately 3 to 4 minutes as part of the 11-minute three-headliner show. Based on her catalog, FIFA history, and current promotional priorities, here are the tracks most likely to feature.
Almost certain: “Dai Dai” (the new official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, virtually guaranteed) and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (her most iconic FIFA song and one of the most-streamed World Cup anthems ever).
Strong possibilities: “Hips Don’t Lie” (her first Hot 100 number-one and a global recognition juggernaut), “She Wolf” (a signature high-energy choreography moment from Super Bowl LIV), and “Whenever, Wherever” (her breakthrough English-language hit from Laundry Service and a guaranteed crowd singalong).
Possible surprises: “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (her record-breaking 2023 collaboration), “La La La (Brazil 2014)” (a nostalgic nod to her 2014 closing ceremony), a Burna Boy joint appearance for “Dai Dai,” or a three-headliner finale combining Shakira, Madonna, and BTS curated by Chris Martin.
Shakira’s Career: Records, Achievements & Milestones
Shakira is referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music” and has been credited with popularizing Spanish-language music on a global scale. She has sold over 80 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time.
| Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Records sold worldwide | 80+ million |
| Grammy Awards | 4 (from 7 nominations) |
| Latin Grammy Awards | 15 (from 36 nominations) |
| Billboard Latin Music Awards | 47+ (record for female artist) |
| Hot 100 number-one singles | 1 (“Hips Don’t Lie,” 2006) |
| Hot Latin Songs Top 10 entries | 37+ (record for female artist) |
| Latin Airplay number ones | 15 (record holder) |
| YouTube views (“Waka Waka”) | 4+ billion |
| Spotify streams (“Waka Waka”) | 1+ billion (Guinness World Record) |
| Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year | 2011 (youngest recipient at the time) |
| MTV Video Music Awards Vanguard Award | 2025 |
| BET Awards Ultimate Icon Award | 2025 |
| Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Nominated (2026) |
Shakira was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She signed her first record deal with Sony Music Colombia at age 14 and released her debut album Magia in 1991. Her breakthrough came with Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998).
Her 2001 English-language crossover album Laundry Service, anchored by “Whenever, Wherever,” sold over 13 million copies and made her a global pop star. In 2006, “Hips Don’t Lie” with Wyclef Jean made Shakira the first South American artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually topping charts in over 55 countries.
Her 2017 Spanish-language album El Dorado won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year. Her 2024 comeback Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album in February 2025, becoming her fourth career Grammy.
The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour
Shakira is currently touring the world on her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, which began February 11, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tour is the highest-grossing concert tour ever by a Latin artist, generating $421.6 million and selling 3.3 million tickets across its first 86 shows. Guinness World Records officially certified the milestone in December 2025.
The tour broke attendance records in Mexico, where Shakira performed 13 sold-out shows at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City and sold over 800,000 tickets at the venue alone. She closed her Mexico run with a free concert at Mexico City’s Zócalo on March 1, 2026, drawing 400,000 fans, the largest crowd ever recorded in the city’s main public square.
On May 2, 2026, she performed at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, drawing over 2 million fans and generating approximately $150 million in tourism revenue per Rolling Stone.
The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran 2026 US arena leg kicks off June 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the day after the World Cup opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The tour runs through July 25, 2026, with stops in cities that overlap with World Cup host venues including Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and Boston.
After the July 19 halftime show, Shakira heads to Madrid, Spain for an 11-show residency at Shakira Stadium starting September 18, 2026.
How to Watch the Halftime Show
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, 2026 on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). The halftime show is expected to begin around 4:00 to 4:20 p.m. ET depending on first-half stoppage time.
US viewers can watch free over the air with a digital antenna on both networks, or stream via the FOX Sports app (TV provider login required) and Peacock for Spanish coverage. International broadcasters carrying the final include BBC and ITV in the UK, TSN in Canada, TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca in Mexico, SBS in Australia, and RTVE in Spain.
For full broadcast and streaming details, see our complete FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show guide.
FAQ About Shakira at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Halftime Show
Will Burna Boy perform with Shakira at the halftime show?
FIFA has not confirmed whether Burna Boy will appear. As the featured artist on “Dai Dai,” he is a logical guest if the song is performed during the halftime set. Burna Boy is not listed as a halftime show co-headliner alongside Shakira, Madonna, and BTS, but guest appearances during specific songs are common at major events.
Is Waka Waka still Shakira’s most popular song?
“Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” remains one of Shakira’s signature songs and her most globally recognized World Cup anthem. As of January 2025, it holds the Guinness World Record for most streamed FIFA World Cup song on Spotify, with over one billion streams. The music video has surpassed 4 billion views on YouTube. However, “Hips Don’t Lie” remains her only Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.
How long will Shakira perform at the World Cup halftime show?
The full halftime show runs approximately 11 minutes, split between Shakira, Madonna, and BTS. Shakira is expected to receive 3 to 4 minutes of solo stage time, plus a potential three-headliner finale.
What language will Shakira sing in at the halftime show?
Shakira is expected to sing in multiple languages, consistent with the multilingual chorus of “Dai Dai” that combines Italian, Yoruba, Spanish, French, and English. Her catalog spans Spanish-language hits (“Hips Don’t Lie” has both English and Spanish versions, “Bzrp Music Sessions” is Spanish) and English crossovers (“Whenever, Wherever,” “She Wolf,” “Waka Waka”). Past FIFA performances have always blended languages to reflect the global audience.
Will Shakira and Madonna perform together?
FIFA has not confirmed a joint Shakira-Madonna moment. The two have never collaborated on a recorded track, but the 11-minute three-headliner format curated by Chris Martin lends itself to a finale combining all three acts. Shakira and Madonna previously appeared on the same Super Bowl halftime stage in different years (Madonna at Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Shakira at Super Bowl LIV in 2020), making this their first shared performance.
Did Shakira perform at the Super Bowl?
Yes. Shakira co-headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show on February 2, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami alongside Jennifer Lopez. The performance, which featured guest appearances from Bad Bunny and J Balvin, won a Primetime Emmy Award and became the most-viewed Super Bowl halftime show on YouTube with over 323 million views as of 2025. Her Super Bowl setlist included “She Wolf,” “Empire,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” and “Waka Waka.”
Is Shakira still touring during the World Cup?
Yes. The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran 2026 US arena leg runs from June 13 to July 25, 2026, overlapping with the entire FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament. After the July 19 halftime show in New Jersey, Shakira returns to her tour, then heads to Madrid in September for an 11-show residency.
How can I see Shakira live during the World Cup?
Beyond the July 19 halftime show, fans can catch Shakira on the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour 2026 US dates, with arena shows in Los Angeles (June 13-14), San Jose (June 19-20), Dallas (June 23), Atlanta (June 26 and 28), Miami (July 1-2), Baltimore (July 6), Boston (July 10), and Atlantic City (July 25). Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and Live Nation.
The World Cup 2026 halftime show marks Shakira’s fourth FIFA World Cup appearance and the latest chapter in a 20-year relationship with the tournament that no other performer in history has matched. From the global phenomenon of “Waka Waka” to the new official anthem “Dai Dai,” her legacy is built into the fabric of the World Cup itself.
