Ghetto Kids to Join Shakira on Stage at 2026 FIFA World Cup Final in New Jersey
Ghetto Kids will join Shakira at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final in New Jersey on July 19 for a ‘Dai Dai’ performance and global fan dance showcase worldwide.
Opening: Ghetto Kids invited to perform with Shakira at World Cup Final
Ghetto Kids have been invited to share the stage with Shakira at the FIFA World Cup Final set for July 19 in New Jersey.
The announcement came after Shakira posted a video on her official Instagram account on Wednesday, May 20, confirming plans around the tournament’s official song, "Dai Dai."
Organizers and artists say the collaboration will bring a live celebration of the song’s global dance response to the closing match of a tournament taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Shakira frames performance around ‘Dai Dai’ and fan-created dances
In her social video, Shakira described the final performance as intended to be “special” and urged fans to keep sharing dance clips inspired by "Dai Dai."
The record, which blends Afrobeats, dance-pop, world music and reggaetón, features Nigerian star Burna Boy and has already sparked a wave of fan-made choreography online.
Shakira told viewers she had personally invited the Ugandan troupe after seeing numerous fan videos and praised the creativity emerging from across the globe.
Royalties and philanthropy tied to the World Cup single
Officials said royalties from "Dai Dai" will be directed to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a joint initiative intended to expand educational and football opportunities for children.
The fund has a stated fundraising goal of $100 million by the close of the tournament, and proceeds from the official song are part of that drive.
Organizers emphasized that the creative campaign around the song is designed both to entertain and to generate sustained support for community programs worldwide.
Ghetto Kids: from Kampala’s Katwe to international stages
The Ghetto Kids were formed in 2014 by Dauda Kavuma and consist of children hailing from the Katwe neighborhood of Kampala.
Their rise began after a homemade routine set to Eddy Kenzo’s "Sitya Loss" went viral, opening doors to international collaborations and media appearances.
Since then the troupe has been featured in music videos for global artists, performed on television talent stages and participated in events tied to previous World Cup activity.
Cultural impact and representation at a global sporting event
Bringing an African youth dance group to the World Cup final highlights the event’s growing focus on diverse cultural programming.
Observers say such pairings can spotlight artists and communities that rarely receive mainstream attention on the world’s largest sporting platform.
Producers and cultural advisers involved with staging the final have signaled an intent to present artists who reflect the tournament’s multinational footprint and the musical fusion embodied in the official track.
Logistics and what fans can expect on July 19 in New Jersey
The closing ceremony will be staged on the night of July 19, immediately preceding the final match in New Jersey, and organizers are planning a compact, high-energy set timed for television audiences.
Shakira’s invitation to the Ghetto Kids is expected to be part of a choreographed segment that integrates fan-submitted clips with live performance elements.
Fans worldwide have been encouraged to post dance videos to social platforms as part of a broader participatory campaign that the singer said she will review personally ahead of the final.
Background on the 2026 tournament and the official song rollout
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and is staged across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The selection of "Dai Dai" as the official song taps into contemporary popular rhythms and aims to provide a unifying soundtrack for a tournament spread across three countries.
Producers have paired the single’s release with global promotion that invites public participation, charitable fundraising and a high-visibility closing sequence.
Ghetto Kids’ inclusion next to a global pop star for the final performance underscores how viral social media moments can evolve into mainstream cultural opportunities.
