Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, has been announced as one of the headliners for the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, set to hold at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on July 13.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced this in a statement on Monday. It marks a major moment not just for Tems but for African music as a whole.
“We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings, and improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. I can’t wait to see you at the Club World Cup final!” Tems said in a statement.
Tems has performed on other major global stages, including Coachella 2024, Glastonbury Festival, and the 2023 NBA All-Star Game halftime show.
She will share the stage with Colombian reggaeton musician J Balvin, who expressed it as “a historic moment for me, for Latin culture, and for every kid who dreams big,” and American rapper and singer Doja Cat.
The performance by the trio of global stars will take place during the final of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which is hosting 32 clubs for the first time.
Top clubs from Europe, South America, Africa, and beyond are battling it out across cities in the U.S. from June 14 to July 13.
This halftime show marks the launch of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative unveiled at April’s Global Citizen NOW Summit by Infantino and Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans.
The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.
FIFA has pledged that every ticket sold for Club World Cup matches in the U.S. will donate $1 to this cause.
