Shakira, Madonna and BTS will take part in the FIFA halftime show: a look at the top 5 artists of all time

Anthems have a long tradition of bringing people together and representing a community, but only a few can make people rise and dance their hearts out. Many prominent singers, all over the world, have collaborated to perform their songs at the FIFA World Cup. In 2026, Shakira, Madonna and BTS will participate in the Final Halftime Show in New Jersey, USA. The show will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. However, there have been many artists in the past that fans have not been able to get over. Let’s take a look at the top 5 players in FIFA World Cup history.

You can’t escape the infectious rabbit hole of Waka Waka like no other – and that’s exactly the truth. Shakira stunned the entire world with her joyful African song, becoming the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held in South Africa. Whether it’s the lyrics “Waka waka, eh, eh” or the dance steps, the song has not only become an important part of playlists, but also music culture. The singer performed the song with a medley of “She Wolf” and “Hips Don’t Lie” at the World Cup opening ceremony. After amazing success, the Colombian singer returned to the world of football in 2014 to perform her song “La La La” with Carlinhos Brown in Brazil, according to Billboard.

BTS, the popular and cherished K-Pop group, has engraved their name in the music industry in golden letters. One of the members, Jungkook, took to the stage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar during the opening ceremony. While performing the football anthem, the 28-year-old sang his hit single ‘Dreamers’. As photos and clips spread on social media, fans were unable to maintain calm. In an electric showdown, Jungkook sang alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al Qubaishi.

“It Girl” is in town, and how could there be anyone else who makes everyone dance on the floor? Jennifer Lopez performed the song “We Are Back (Ole Ola)” alongside Pitbull and famous Brazilian singer Claudia Leite. The trio glamorized the stage in 2014, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup. Lopez, who wore a shiny dark green dress, gave a lively performance with amazing dance moves, according to Reuters.

At the closing ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, between France and Croatia, Will Smith gave a thrilling performance. He sang the anthem “Live It Up” alongside Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi in front of 80,000 spectators. “Collaborating with Nicky, Diplo and Era on this track represents harmony, eclectic flavors and genres coming together. At the end of the day, we just want to see the world dance,” Will Smith said, according to FIFA.

Following his huge touring success and becoming a global superstar, Ricky Martin composed the 1998 FIFA anthem. The 54-year-old performed his song “Cup of Life” in France during the pre-match closing ceremony. Eventually, he received international media attention, and won numerous awards and accolades for his creativity. As for his tradition of World Cup performances, Martin recently visited India for the T20 finals earlier this year.