Shakira has named her favourite memories from the 2026 World Cup, a day after co-headlining the tournament's first-ever final halftime show. In an interview republished by Yahoo Entertainment, the Colombian star singled out the reaction to her anthem "Dai Dai," Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's run to stardom, and Lionel Messi's record-breaking tournament as the moments that stood out most.
TL;DR
- Shakira performed "Dai Dai" with Burna Boy at the World Cup final halftime show on Sunday, July 19.
- She named the "Dai Dai Challenge," Vozinha's underdog run and Messi's scoring record as tournament highlights.
- The singer partnered with Airbnb to host five superfans in New York for final weekend.
- UK viewers watched the final and halftime show live across BBC and ITV.
Shakira is currently on her biggest tour yet — the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. Christopher Polk/Billboard/Getty
'Dai Dai' brought people together, Shakira says
The singer said this year's tournament "has been so special for so many reasons," pointing first to the response to "Dai Dai," her official World Cup anthem with Nigerian singer Burna Boy, according to Yahoo Entertainment. She said watching fans learn the song's choreography and celebrate together was one of her favourite parts of the summer.
"Dai Dai," whose title translates loosely as "come on, come on," was released in May and became the official song of the 2026 tournament. Its music video featured Messi and Kylian Mbappé alongside tributes to Diego Maradona and Pelé.
Instagram: Shakira (@shakira). (2026, July 18). Previewed her final performance with the young dancers behind her online "Dai Dai Challenge," asking fans if they were ready — as reported by TODAY.
Vozinha and Messi: the moments that stayed with her
Shakira also pointed to two moments from the pitch: Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper becoming a hometown hero, and Messi breaking football's all-time World Cup scoring record. She posted an Instagram tribute to the Argentine forward before Sunday's final, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar José Évora Dias, worked as an electrician before turning professional at 26, according to beIN Sports. At 40, he turned Cape Verde's World Cup debut into a fairy tale, and nearly stopped Messi's Argentina in the round of 32. "It is an honour for me to represent my country," he told Al Jazeera after his side's stunning draw with Spain.
56,000 → 14.2 million Growth in Vozinha's Instagram following after his display against Spain. Source: ESPN
His manager, Bubista, said the goalkeeper's tearful celebrations were "a cry of resilience," according to ESPN. Messi, who has continued to shine for Inter Miami this year, went on to break the tournament's all-time scoring record before Sunday's final.
An Airbnb weekend built around her favourite spots in New York
Shakira partnered with Airbnb to bring five superfans to New York for the final weekend, curating an itinerary based on her own favourite spots in the city, according to Yahoo Entertainment. She said travelling as a group let the fans discover the city through each other's eyes.
The itinerary included a Colombian meal celebrating the city's Latino community, sushi, and a stop in Times Square. The group then joined Shakira's world tour concert on Monday, July 20.
UK fans watched live as history was made
British viewers did not have to wait to see the drama. The final and its halftime show aired live on both BBC and ITV, with kickoff at 8pm BST, according to Yahoo Sports. ITV broadcast the entire halftime show from New Jersey, while the BBC confirmed its own separate coverage plans, per AOL.
8pm BST kickoff · c. 8:50pm BST halftime show UK viewers watched live on both BBC and ITV. Source: Yahoo Sports
Shakira was pictured in the stands with her sons, Milan and Sasha, during an earlier match in the tournament — a reminder of ties to football that stretch back to 2010, when "Waka Waka" and the World Cup introduced her to her former partner, retired footballer Gerard Piqué, according to The Mirror.
A fourth World Cup anthem, two decades on
"Dai Dai" is Shakira's fourth official FIFA World Cup song, following "Waka Waka" in 2010, "La La La" in 2014, and an earlier appearance at the 2006 tournament. Sunday's show was the first-ever World Cup final halftime performance, an idea championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino working alongside Coldplay's Chris Martin, according to AOL. It also supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, per Yahoo Entertainment.
The performance underscored how closely pop music and football have become linked at the World Cup, 16 years after "Waka Waka" turned Shakira into one of the tournament's most recognisable faces, according to Brut. For fans, her reflections offer a personal postscript to Sunday's final — a tournament defined by both spectacle and human stories like Vozinha's.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 20, 2026.
