Shakira has opened up about her unique connection to the FIFA World Cup, revealing how football shaped not only her career but also her personal life. Ahead of her appearance at the first-ever halftime show in a World Cup final, the Colombian superstar reflected on the moments that linked her forever to the world's biggest sporting event, from global hits to life-changing relationships and family milestones.

Some artists become associated with iconic songs. Others become connected to entire cultural eras. For Shakira, her relationship with the FIFA World Cup has evolved into something far greater than a series of successful performances or a collection of football anthems. It has become a story intertwined with career-defining moments, personal milestones, family memories and, as she now admits, events that completely changed the direction of her life.

As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, Shakira is preparing to add another chapter to a connection that has lasted nearly two decades. The singer is set to appear during the first official halftime show in World Cup final history, sharing the stage with global names including Madonna and BTS. For many artists, such an invitation would represent the culmination of a relationship with the tournament. For Shakira, however, it is simply the latest moment in a journey that began many years ago.

Her first meaningful connection with the World Cup came in 2006. At the time, she joined Wyclef Jean during the tournament while riding the momentum of a career already reaching international heights. Looking back, Shakira admits she had no idea how important football would eventually become in her life. What seemed like a high-profile performance opportunity would later become the foundation of a much deeper and more personal story.

Everything changed four years later. In 2010, Shakira released “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” a song that would become one of the most successful World Cup anthems ever recorded. The track quickly evolved into a global phenomenon, dominating radio stations, sporting events and playlists around the world. More than a decade later, it remains one of the most recognizable songs ever associated with the tournament.

Yet behind the commercial success lies a deeply personal story. During the 2010 World Cup, Shakira met Spanish football star Gerard Piqué, who was representing Spain's national team. Their relationship quickly became one of the most talked-about romances in international entertainment and sports. Together they built a family and welcomed two sons, Milan and Sasha.

For Shakira, that period remains impossible to separate from the success of “Waka Waka.” The song is no longer just a global hit or a football anthem. It represents the beginning of a major chapter in her personal life. She has often referred to her children as the “Waka Waka kids,” a phrase that perfectly illustrates how closely her family story remains tied to that moment in time.

The connection continued in 2014 when she returned to the World Cup with “La La La (Brazil 2014).” By then, her role within the tournament's musical history had already been firmly established. She was no longer simply a performer invited to participate; she had become one of the defining musical figures associated with the modern World Cup era.

That tournament also marked another significant personal milestone. Shakira was expecting her second child during the period leading up to the event. Although she had not publicly shared all the details at the time, many fans later recognized how important that chapter was in her life. Looking back, she speaks about those memories with a combination of humor, gratitude and nostalgia.

For Shakira, World Cups now function almost like milestones that divide different phases of her life. Each tournament represents a unique period marked by different emotions, professional achievements and personal experiences. The events are no longer simply sporting competitions but reference points in her own life story.

The 2026 tournament adds yet another layer to that relationship. Earlier this year, Shakira appeared during the World Cup opening celebrations in Mexico, performing “Dai Dai” alongside Burna Boy. The song has become one of the major musical signatures of the tournament and further strengthens her connection to football's biggest stage.

Speaking about the World Cup today, Shakira sees it as something larger than sport. In a world often divided by political tensions, social differences and cultural barriers, she believes the tournament remains one of the few events capable of bringing people together through a shared experience. That idea of unity continues to inspire her involvement with every new edition of the competition.

Her appearance during the final at MetLife Stadium will be especially historic. For the first time, the World Cup will feature a halftime show inspired by the entertainment model popularized by the Super Bowl. Organizers hope the event will become a defining cultural moment, and Shakira's inclusion feels almost inevitable given her long history with the tournament.

Very few artists have become as closely linked to the World Cup as she has. Across multiple generations of fans, her music has become part of the tournament's soundtrack. Whether through “Waka Waka,” “La La La” or now “Dai Dai,” her voice has accompanied some of football's most memorable moments.

Looking back, the story feels almost cinematic. A song led her to a tournament. The tournament led her to a relationship that changed her life. That relationship led to the creation of a family and countless memories that continue to shape her identity today. Few artists can point to a single event that influenced both their professional success and personal destiny so profoundly.

As she prepares to step onto the World Cup stage once again, Shakira speaks less about strategy, career planning or professional ambition and more about gratitude. For her, the connection to football has always felt personal. It is not merely a business opportunity or a recurring performance slot. It is a relationship built through memories, milestones and moments that continue to define who she is.

That perspective may explain why she continues to return to the World Cup with such enthusiasm. For millions of fans, she is one of the voices most closely associated with football's greatest tournament. For Shakira herself, however, the connection runs even deeper. It is a story of music, family, love and life-changing moments that began on a football stage and never truly ended.