Shakira shares behind-the-scenes look at FIFA World Cup final with Beyonce, BTS and more stars
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY: Shakira gave fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of FIFA World Cup final after sharing a carousel of photos on Instagram on Monday, July 20. The singer posted snapshots with several celebrities and music stars who attended or performed during the championship match between Spain and Argentina.
The global pop star, who performed during the historic halftime show alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy, also reflected on what the tournament meant to her. Calling it a special milestone in her long association with football, Shakira said she was honored to be part of the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show.
Shakira shares behind-the-scenes photos with Beyonce, BTS and more
Shakira captioned the post, "What a day yesterday! Running into so many people I appreciate and respect, and receiving so much love from all of you!!"
The Instagram carousel featured photos of her with Beyonce and Jay-Z, Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Kevin Hart and Korean band BTS.
During the final, she performed the official FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament anthem, 'Dai Dai,' alongside Burna Boy. Speaking to PEOPLE while discussing her partnership with Airbnb, the global pop star reflected on her favorite moments from this year's championship.
"This World Cup has been so special for so many reasons," she wrote in an email interview, adding, "I loved seeing the reaction to the song 'Dai Dai' and how it brought people together, seeing people do the choreo and celebrate together with it.”
She also highlighted other memorable moments from the tournament, including seeing Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha "become a hometown hero" and "seeing Messi break the all-time scoring record." Before the final, Shakira also praised Lionel Messi on her Instagram Stories, writing, "What Lionel Messi is doing is beyond extraordinary!"
She further said, "It shows the values of a man who is deeply committed and disciplined, challenging time and all odds. Proving that a person is not defined by age or what others say."
She described being part of the first halftime show as "an honor," adding that she hoped to bring "good vibes and excitement to the field ahead of that final 45 minutes."
She added, "The world might be very divided these days, but the World Cup is one of those rare moments where everyone actually unites and rallies around a common passion, and that's why I love being a part of it so much. The world is meant to meet. It's so meaningful to me to have songs that inspire with a message and bring people joy."
Shakira wears custom Roberto Cavalli outfit for FIFA World Cup halftime show
For the halftime performance, Shakira wore a custom Roberto Cavalli design created by Fausto Puglisi. The sparkling two-piece costume featured more than 200,000 Swarovski crystals, hand-embroidered fringe and Cavalli’s “Ray of Sunset” print in sunset-inspired colors.
She performed barefoot during the opening portion before changing into matching pink and yellow boots and finished the performance wearing gold sunglasses. According to the designer, the outfit required more than 120 hours of hand embroidery and was created specifically to maximize movement during her dancing.
The design was intended as a tribute to her iconic 2010 World Cup look while updating it for 2026. Approximately 34 dancers accompanied the singer, wearing coordinated sunset-themed Cavalli costumes matching her look.
Shakira joined a superstar halftime lineup that included Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber during the 11-minute Super Bowl-style performance at New York New Jersey Stadium. Following Madonna's grand opening featuring Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, BTS performed 'Dynamite,' while Bieber delivered an acoustic performance of 'Everything Hallelujah.'
The entire halftime performance supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative bringing education and football to children worldwide. The fund also received 100 percent of her royalties from 'Dai Dai' and raised $60 million during the tournament.
