Nigerian music star Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, made history on Sunday after performing at the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show.
The Grammy-winning singer became the first African artist to perform at the World Cup Final Halftime Show, marking a significant milestone for African music on football’s biggest stage.
Burna Boy thrilled fans with a performance of the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai,” alongside Colombian global superstar Shakira, drawing loud cheers from the crowd at the New York stadium.
The historic halftime spectacle also featured performances from several international music acts, including Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Coldplay, making it one of the most star-studded entertainment lineups in World Cup history.
On the pitch, Spain edged Lionel Messi’s Argentina 1-0 to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy.
The tournament concluded with popular streamer and internet personality iShowSpeed delivering a performance of his World Cup-themed track, “Champions,” as part of the closing celebrations.
BACKSTORY:
Burna Boy’s appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show marks another major milestone in his growing international career. Over the past few years, the Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer has become one of Africa’s biggest musical exports, earning global recognition through hit songs, sold-out arena tours, and collaborations with some of the world’s biggest artists.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, introduced the first-ever official halftime show during the World Cup final, inspired by the entertainment format popularised by the Super Bowl. FIFA announced the initiative as part of efforts to expand the tournament’s global entertainment appeal by combining football with world-class musical performances.
Ahead of the tournament, Burna Boy teamed up with Colombian superstar Shakira to record “Dai Dai,” the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The song quickly became one of the tournament’s defining soundtracks, playing in stadiums, fan zones, and celebrations across host cities. It later achieved global success, surpassing 800 million combined streams across Spotify and YouTube Music, making it the most successful official FIFA World Cup song of the tournament.
For Shakira, performing at another World Cup added to her long-standing association with FIFA after the global success of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” during the 2010 World Cup and “La La La (Brazil 2014)” four years later.
Burna Boy’s participation in the halftime show also reflects the increasing influence of Afrobeats on the global stage. In recent years, Nigerian artists have headlined major international festivals, performed at prestigious award ceremonies, and collaborated with leading global musicians, helping position African music as one of the world’s fastest-growing genres.
By becoming the first African artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, Burna Boy has added another landmark achievement to his career while further showcasing African music to millions of football fans watching around the world.
