Burna Boy will perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show, making him one of the few African artists to feature at one of football’s biggest events.
FIFA confirmed the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer as part of the line-up for its first-ever World Cup final halftime show. The performance will take place on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium alongside international stars including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
His appearance adds another major international event to his career and puts him among a small number of African artists who have performed at FIFA tournaments.
African Artists Who Have Performed At FIFA Events
FIFA has featured African musicians at different World Cup events over the years, although most appeared during opening or closing ceremonies rather than at the final itself.
Davido performed during the closing ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after contributing to the tournament’s official soundtrack.
Moroccan singer Nora Fatehi also appeared at the closing ceremony in Qatar as part of the entertainment programme.
South African singer Nomcebo Zikode reached football fans worldwide after “Jerusalema” became a global anthem during the COVID-19 era, although FIFA did not stage her as a World Cup final performer.
Burna Boy now becomes part of a different chapter. He will perform during the first halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history.
FIFA Introduces A World Cup Final Halftime Show
The 2026 final will mark the first time FIFA has staged a halftime show during the World Cup final.
Previous finals featured opening and closing ceremonies, but none included a dedicated halftime concert.
FIFA said the show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to improve access to education and football opportunities for children.
Burna Boy Continues His Run On Global Stages
Burna Boy has performed at some of the world’s biggest venues in recent years.
He became the first African artist to headline a sold-out concert at London Stadium. He has also headlined shows at Paris La Défense Arena, Citi Field in New York and other major venues across Europe and North America.
The FIFA World Cup final halftime show adds another international appearance to that list.
List Of African Artists Featured At FIFA World Cup Events
The following African artists have performed at FIFA World Cup events:
- Burna Boy – Performer at the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show (2026).
- Davido – Performer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony.
- Nora Fatehi – Performer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony.
- Nomcebo Zikode – South African singer whose music gained worldwide popularity among football fans, although she did not perform at a World Cup final.
Burna Boy’s performance will be the first to take place during a FIFA World Cup final halftime show.
