Grammy Award-winning Afrobeats star Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has become the first Nigerian artiste to perform during the FIFA World Cup final halftime show.

The historic performance took place on Sunday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States, where Burna Boy shared the stage with Colombian singer Shakira during FIFA’s inaugural halftime entertainment.

His appearance marked another significant milestone for Nigerian music, which has continued to gain international recognition through sold-out tours, major award wins and collaborations on some of the world’s biggest stages.

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Although Nigerian artistes such as Femi Kuti and Rema have previously performed at FIFA World Cup-related events, Burna Boy is the first Nigerian to perform during the final’s halftime show.

Burna Boy and Shakira performed Dai Dai, the tournament’s official anthem, before thousands of fans inside the stadium and millions of viewers worldwide. Uganda’s Ghetto Kids also joined the performance, bringing energetic choreography to the stage after previously appearing at the tournament’s opening ceremony.

The halftime entertainment featured performances from American music icons Madonna and Justin Bieber. Madonna opened the show at the end of the first half, while Bieber later delivered an acoustic rendition of Everything Hallelujah. Brazilian football legends Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho also appeared before the crowd, receiving loud applause from supporters inside the stadium.

Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the halftime show lasted more than 27 minutes, making it considerably longer than the traditional 15-minute halftime interval used during FIFA matches.

The extended entertainment segment generated mixed reactions among football fans and pundits. While some welcomed the introduction of a Super Bowl-style halftime show to the World Cup final, others questioned whether it should become part of football’s biggest tournament.

Former England striker Ian Wright joked about Ronaldinho’s oversized tracksuit, while former Manchester United captain Roy Keane described the show as “a bit of an anticlimax” despite praising Shakira’s performance.

For Burna Boy, the appearance represents another milestone in a career that has helped bring Afrobeats to a wider global audience. In recent years, Nigerian artistes have headlined major international festivals, sold out stadiums and arenas across Europe and North America, won prestigious music awards and contributed official songs to global sporting events.

His performance at the FIFA World Cup final halftime show further reflects the growing influence of Nigerian music and Afrobeats on the international stage.

Meiza Nigeria