Shakira's connection to the FIFA World Cup was never something she actively pursued. It found her, transformed her life, and blessed her with two sons. Now, two decades after her first performance on that global stage, the Colombian pop icon is returning for what she describes as "fate." Speaking with PEOPLE ahead of her landmark halftime performance at the 2026 World Cup Final on July 18 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the 49-year-old reflected on how a single song in 2006 quietly set the course of her personal and professional life. The arc that followed is almost impossible to script: two World Cup performances, a relationship with a footballer she met at one of them, two children, a separation, a relocation, and now a co-headlining slot alongside Madonna and BTS at the sport's most-watched match.
Why Shakira feels an unbreakable connection to the FIFA World Cup
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa marked a pivotal convergence in Shakira's life. She had already performed at the 2006 tournament in Germany alongside Wyclef Jean, debuting "Hips Don't Lie" to a global audience. However, it was "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official anthem for South Africa 2010, that fundamentally altered her life's direction.
"My history with [soccer] goes back to 2006 when I performed at the first World Cup with Wyclef, performed 'Hips Don't Lie,' and then again in 2010, which is when I met the father of my kids who was playing during that World Cup," she told PEOPLE. The man she met was Gerard Piqué, the Spanish central defender who was then a key figure in Spain's World Cup-winning campaign. Their relationship lasted a decade before ending in June 2022.
"That's why I call my kids the 'Waka' kids; I think they were born because of that song," she said. "That song took me to the World Cup and the World Cup had an important impact in my life. And they were born, the best thing that has happened to me."
The thread continued into the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where Shakira, performing "La La La (Brazil 2014)" with Carlinhos Brown, carried a secret. "In 2014, I was pregnant with Sasha, with my little one, and my fans, all of my fans, they saw me perform, and they're like, 'Shakira's pregnant,'" she recalled. "And I was like a month pregnant. I was like two months maximum, but they know me so well."
That level of connection between artist and audience has become inseparable from how she thinks about the World Cup itself. "So, every World Cup is something really magical," she said. "And I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically."
She has already made her presence felt at the 2026 tournament. Shakira appeared alongside Burna Boy at the opening match, performing "Dai Dai" which means "come on, come on." Asked what keeps drawing her back to work with World Cup organizers, she gave a single-word answer: "Fate."
Who is Shakira's ex-partner?
Shakira and Gerard Piqué were never married, though they were together for roughly a decade. Piqué, a Barcelona FC stalwart who won eight La Liga titles and the 2010 World Cup with Spain, announced his retirement from professional soccer in November 2022, months after his split with Shakira became public that June.
Who are Shakira's kids?
Milan Piqué Mebarak, born January 22, 2013, and Sasha Piqué Mebarak, born January 29, 2015, are both building identities that pull from two worlds: music and sport.
Milan, now 13, has channeled his parents' separation into songwriting. "I remember he wrote two beautiful songs during the whole separation process," Shakira told Zane Lowe in 2024. He has also spent time in the studio with his mother, and at just 8 years old performed a video duet on piano with a friend, which Shakira shared online as a tribute to their music teacher.
Sasha, 11, has tracked closer to his father's path athletically. He was kicking a soccer ball at six months old, picked up karate seriously enough to place first in a 2022 tournament, and has demonstrated a visual creativity that caught his mother off guard in a meaningful way.
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About the Author: Lachit Roy is a sports writer at The Times of India, where he covers the NBA, WWE, and other major international sporting events. With over five years of experience across different media houses, he has developed expertise in reporting, analysis, and storytelling. His sharp insights are complemented by a clear and engaging writing style. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Tezpur University. Beyond sports, Lachit is passionate about movies and enjoys gardening in his free time.
