Shakira and Rihanna are reportedly in talks to perform at the 2026 World Cup.

The World Cup – the most prestigious tournament on the planet never fails to captivate fans. But in 2026, it could go even further. Held for the first time in three countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada, with a scale expanded to 48 teams, the 2026 World Cup is not just a football festival, but is gradually becoming a global mega-event, combining sports, music and popular culture.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed a revolutionary change to the 2026 World Cup final, with a halftime show – something that has never happened before in the tournament’s nearly 100-year history. The special stage will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on July 19, 2026, in collaboration with international charity Global Citizen.

“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup. A performance worthy of the biggest sporting event on the planet,” Infantino said.

Immediately after FIFA’s announcement, social media exploded with the news that two world music icons, Shakira and Rihanna, were in talks to perform at the special show. The rumor originated from sources such as “Top Music Universe” and “@Shhaknews”, and quickly spread across the globe.

Fans on social media couldn’t hide their excitement:

– Without Shakira, there would be no World Cup!

– Shakira and Rihanna performing together? It would be a musical explosion!

– A legendary collaboration, I’m ready for it!

If this information becomes true, this will be the reunion of the two female artists since the hit song Can’t Remember to Forget You (2014) – the song that reached more than 1.3 billion views on YouTube and ranked top 15 on the Billboard HOT 100 after more than a decade.

Shakira: The symbol associated with the World Cup

In the minds of football fans, the World Cup always seems to have Shakira’s image. She is the only female artist to have performed at three consecutive World Cups, specifically:

– 2006 (Germany): Hips Don’t Lie with Wyclef Jean at the closing ceremony.

– 2010 (South Africa): The immortal hit Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became the official song of the tournament.

2014 (Brazil): The song La La La (Brazil 2014) rocked the Maracanã stadium. Rihanna: Queen of the Stage and New Generation Icon

Although she has not released music regularly in recent years, Rihanna is still one of the most influential stars. Her performance at the 2023 Super Bowl while pregnant not only made a strong impression but also broke global viewership records, proving her status as the “queen of entertainment”.

With her ability to stir up the stage, Rihanna is considered the perfect piece for the World Cup stage – where the most intense emotions of sports and music converge. Infantino also revealed that Chris Martin (Coldplay) and manager Phil Harvey will be involved in the selection of performers. Notably, famous rapper Drake has also been mentioned as a potential guest, after he appeared at the event to announce the World Cup host cities.

All the names mentioned are symbolic, showing the ambition to turn the final into not just a sporting competition, but a globalized, colorful festival that goes beyond football.

From expanding to 48 teams, hosting in three countries, to integrating top entertainment elements, the 2026 World Cup is gradually becoming the biggest event in modern sports history. It is not only a place to honor the technique, tactics and emotions of football, but also a place to show the exchange of culture, music and performing arts.