"It’s a message for every child": Shakira reflects on life-changing FIFA journey ahead of historic World Cup final

Shakira’s FIFA World Cup return hits historic heights as global music icon set to headline a ground-breaking moment in football history. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, and excitement is mounting for the tournament’s inaugural halftime show, a performance poised to merge sport, music and culture like never before.The announcement puts Shakira back into the heart of football’s biggest stage, a space that has defined important chapters of her personal and professional life. But this time, the Colombian superstar comes not just as a performer, but as a symbol of resilience after weathering years of public scrutiny, personal challenges, and career-defining victories.The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show the likes of which the tournament has never seen. Shakira is set to join Madonna and BTS in co-headlining the event at MetLife Stadium, making it one of the most star-studded entertainment lineups ever attached to a football match.For FIFA, the move reflects an effort to expand the World Cup’s cultural reach beyond the pitch. For Shakira, it represents another milestone in a relationship with football that stretches back more than two decades.Reflecting on the significance of the upcoming event, she said:"Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically."That connection runs deep. Her performance of "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" during the 2010 World Cup became one of the tournament's defining moments and introduced her to football audiences worldwide. It also changed the course of her personal life, as it was during that World Cup that she met former Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué.The singer's latest contribution to the tournament goes far beyond entertainment. Her new collaboration with Burna Boy, "Dai Dai," has been selected as the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More importantly, all royalties from the track will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which helps provide educational opportunities and access to football for children worldwide.Explaining the inspiration behind the project, Shakira said:"It’s a message for every child who’s been told that their dream is too big. And to remind us that every champion started out as a kid who perhaps went through hardship and struggles, but there was someone that believed in them, and that’s why they didn’t give up."The upcoming World Cup appearance arrives during one of the strongest periods of her career. Her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour continues to break records, while recent legal victories have helped close a difficult chapter that dominated headlines for years.Yet despite three decades in the industry, Shakira insists her journey feels far from complete."You know what’s strange? I’ve done this professionally 30 years already, and it feels to me like I’m just starting."As FIFA prepares for a historic final and an unprecedented halftime show, Shakira remains one of the few artists whose story is woven into the tournament itself. This summer, she will once again step onto football’s biggest stage, ready to create another World Cup memory.