The music superstar Burna Boy took centre stage during FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show on Sunday, delivering a performance alongside Shakira as football’s showpiece embraced a new entertainment format.
Burna Boy and Shakira performed the tournament’s official anthem, ‘Dai, Dai’, bringing the curtain down on a star-studded spectacle at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the interval of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The pair performed during the opening ceremony as well but they were joined by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids for the choreography this time around.
The historic halftime show also featured pop icon Madonna, who opened the entertainment after the first half ended goalless, before Justin Bieber performed an acoustic rendition of ‘Everything Hallelujah’.
Brazil legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho also made appearances, driving onto the pitch to loud cheers from the capacity crowd. The pair, members of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning squad, have been regular faces at matches throughout the tournament despite the Selecao’s last-16 exit to Norway.
The show was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds, significantly longer than the traditional 15-minute halftime interval stipulated for FIFA matches under IFAB regulations.
The extended break and the introduction of halftime entertainment have generated mixed reactions, with FIFA’s decision to reshape aspects of the tournament—including extended hydration breaks and the inaugural halftime show—drawing debate.
Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo, who was on punditry duty for Sporty TV during the final, welcomed the innovation but stressed that it should not interfere with the flow of the game.
“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 commented on the event, joking that “Ronaldinho’s tracksuit looked massive,” while ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane admitted he was left underwhelmed by the spectacle.
“It was a bit of an anti-climax, but listen, it’s so nice to see Shakira,” Keane said.
