Nigeria’s biggest music stars, Davido and Wizkid, are notably absent from the headline lineup after FIFA and Global Citizen announced that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show.

The performance, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will take place on July 19, 2026, at the 87,000-capacity MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup final and will be broadcast live to millions of fans worldwide.

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The lineup has already generated conversation globally, particularly because it features established international pop stars while leaving out some of Afrobeats’ biggest names from the live halftime stage.

Davido previously made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar when he performed the official tournament anthem, “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” becoming the first African artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup closing ceremony.

Meanwhile, Wizkid, one of Africa’s most influential Afrobeats stars, is yet to perform at a major FIFA World Cup ceremony or halftime show.

Burna Boy, Rema and Tyla represent Africa

Despite the omission of Davido and Wizkid from the headline act, African music will still have a strong presence at the tournament.

Rema and Tyla are expected to feature during opening ceremony events in Mexico and the United States.

Burna Boy remains Nigeria’s biggest direct representative connected to the tournament after teaming up with Shakira on Dai Dai, one of the official songs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a fusion of Latin pop and Afrobeats released on Thursday.

FIFA targets global audience and social impact

According to FIFA, the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show will combine music, entertainment and social impact on an unprecedented scale.

“Madonna, Shakira and BTS are global icons whose music transcends borders and generations, and we are proud to welcome them to the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

“As the world comes together for the biggest match in football on 19 July 2026 in New York, New Jersey, this historic show will also shine a light on a greater purpose by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our shared mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide.”

FIFA also confirmed that characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will feature during the event to promote access to education for children worldwide.

The halftime show is being produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted