Fact Check: Is Erika Kirk set to perform the national anthem at the FIFA World Cup Final?
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY: Ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that Erika Kirk, the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) CEO, would perform the national anthem before the match. But is this claim true? Let us find out.
Claim: Erika Kirk to perform national anthem at FIFA World Cup Finals
According to the claim that surfaced on X, Erika Kirk will perform the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday.
The post, which has been viewed and shared by thousands, mostly drew mockery from online users, with many criticizing her and questioning her eligibility to perform at such a prestigious platform.
Meanwhile, a few others appeared to remain skeptical, questioned the claim's authenticity, and called for a fact-check.
Fact Check: The claim originated as satire
The claim, however, is false, as there are no credible reports of Charlie Kirk’s widow performing at the FIFA Finals.
There are no official statements, announcements, press releases, or social media posts from Erika or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association about the performance at the upcoming final match.
A Google search for the claim also did not yield any credible reports by prominent news or sports media outlets that support the claim, which, if true, would have been widely covered, triggering debates and backlash.
Moreover, the claim originated from a popular satire account on X called ‘Hoops Crave,’ which describes itself as a parody in the bio.
A similar claim that Erika was set to perform at the NBA Finals circulated last month and also originated from the same source, which was debunked by us.
Justin Bieber named for FIFA Halftime show
Justin Bieber has been announced as one of the co-headliners for the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, which is set to take place on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium.
The 11-minute performance is expected to be the most-watched halftime show in history, with Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and Coldplay also joining the star-studded lineup.
The announcement comes after Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber, were spotted in the stands during the United States' FIFA World Cup opening match in Los Angeles.
The couple was spotted wearing a pink zip-up jacket, a beige hat, and oversized sunglasses, and the 'Baby' singer was seen singing and dancing during the opening ceremony.
