Uganda's Ghetto Kids Set to Perform Alongside Shakira at Historic World Cup Halftime Show

Ugandan dance group Ghetto Kids, who rose from the streets of Kampala to become a social media phenomenon, are set to perform alongside World Cup anthem star Shakira at the tournament's first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show.

On July 19, the group of children from Kampala will take center stage at MetLife Stadium, sharing the spotlight with an artist who is synonymous with football's grandest event.

This moment, both unlikely and fitting, perfectly captures Shakira's global appeal. She is slated to headline the 2026 World Cup final's historic halftime show and has chosen to share the platform with Uganda’s Ghetto Kids.

The young dancers, who have already been featured in the music video for her song "Dai Dai," the official anthem for the 2026 tournament, will perform for football's largest global audience.

No artist is more closely associated with the sound of the World Cup than Shakira, a connection cemented during the summer of 2010. Her song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" became the undeniable heartbeat of that year's tournament.

The anthem echoed from stadiums in Johannesburg to living rooms worldwide, where fans who didn't speak Spanish sang along to every word.

To this day, "Waka Waka" remains one of the best-selling World Cup songs of all time. Its enduring power stems from its respectful cultural integration; Shakira based the track on a traditional African melody, performed it with South African band Freshlyground, and ultimately celebrated the continent hosting the event.