The FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup is more than just football. Every four years, the tournament brings together the world’s biggest stars in sports, music and entertainment, creating unforgettable moments that resonate far beyond the pitch.
Over the years, Nigerian artists have increasingly become part of that global spectacle. From opening and closing ceremonies to official World Cup songs, countdown concerts and FIFA Fan Festival performances, Nigerian musicians have helped provide the soundtrack to football’s biggest event.
While today’s generation of Afrobeats stars continue to dominate international stages, the journey began long before the global rise of the genre. From Femi Kuti’s groundbreaking appearance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to Burna Boy, Rema and Davido’s involvement in FIFA World Cup 2026 events, Nigerian artists have steadily earned their place on football’s grandest stage.
Here are the Nigerian artists who have performed at FIFA World Cup events.
Burna Boy (2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony)
Burna Boy added another historic milestone to his career when he performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City on June 11.
The Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar took center stage alongside global music icon Shakira during the tournament’s opening celebrations, becoming one of the most prominent African artists ever featured at a World Cup opening event.
Beyond the performance itself, Burna Boy also contributed to the tournament’s official music programme through “Dai Dai,” a World Cup song recorded with Shakira as part of FIFA’s 2026 soundtrack project.
His appearance highlighted the continued rise of Afrobeats on the global stage and ensured that Nigerian music remained firmly represented at football’s biggest competition.
Rema (2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Celebrations)
Just hours after Burna Boy’s appearance, on June 12, 2026, fellow Nigerian star Rema became another face of FIFA World Cup 2026. The “Calm Down” singer was among the artists selected by FIFA for the World Cup opening celebrations in Los Angeles. He joined an international lineup that included Lisa of Blackpink, Anitta, Future, Tyla and Katy Perry.
Rema also featured on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album through the song “Goals,” a collaboration with Lisa and Anitta. The track blended Afrobeats, K-pop and Latin pop influences and was chosen as one of the tournament’s flagship songs.
His inclusion in the project further demonstrated how Nigerian music has become a major force in global pop culture.
Davido (2022 & 2026 FIFA World Cup Events)
Few Nigerian artists can match Davido’s World Cup résumé. The Afrobeats superstar first made history on December 18, 2022, when he became the first Nigerian artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup closing ceremony.
Taking the stage at Lusail Stadium in Qatar ahead of the World Cup final, Davido joined Trinidad Cardona and Qatari singer Aisha to perform “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” the tournament’s main official soundtrack.
Released months before the competition, the song became one of the defining records of Qatar 2022 and helped introduce Afrobeats to millions of football fans around the world.
Four years later, Davido returned to the FIFA stage as one of the headline performers at the first-ever FIFA World Cup Countdown Concert held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on June 10, 2026.
During the concert, he thrilled fans with performances of global hits such as “Fall,” “With You” and “Unavailable.” He also joined Major Lazer and Nelly Furtado to debut “No Place Like Home,” one of the official songs associated with the 2026 World Cup.
The event also showcased Davido’s activism. He appeared in a custom Holly and Roo jacket bearing the names of 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, along with the message “BRING THEM HOME.”
Kizz Daniel (2022 FIFA Fan Festival)
Fresh off the global success of “Buga,” Kizz Daniel became one of the Nigerian artists selected to perform at the FIFA Fan Festival during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He performed on November 23, 2022, at Al Bidda Park in Doha as part of FIFA Sound, the tournament’s entertainment initiative that brought together artists from around the world.
At the time, “Buga” had become one of Africa’s biggest songs, making Kizz Daniel a fitting representative of the continent’s booming music scene.
His performance exposed thousands of football fans from across the globe to Nigerian music and reinforced Afrobeats’ growing international appeal.
Patoranking (2022 FIFA Fan Festival)
Another Nigerian star who flew the country’s flag in Qatar was Patoranking. The dancehall and Afrobeats singer was part of the FIFA Fan Festival entertainment lineup and performed at Al Bidda Park on November 28, 2022.
Known for hit songs such as “Girlie O,” “No Kissing Baby,” “Abule” and “Celebrate Me,” Patoranking brought his unique blend of dancehall and Afrobeats to one of the tournament’s biggest fan engagement platforms.
His appearance ensured that Nigeria had multiple representatives across FIFA’s official entertainment events during Qatar 2022.
2Baba (2010 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony)
Long before Afrobeats became a global phenomenon, 2Baba was already representing Nigeria on one of the world’s biggest stages. Then known internationally as 2Face Idibia, the music icon was part of the entertainment lineup for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He shared the spotlight with performers including Shakira, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Samini and other African stars ahead of the final between Spain and the Netherlands.
His appearance came at a time when Nigerian music had not yet achieved the worldwide reach it enjoys today, making the achievement even more significant.
Femi Kuti (2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony)
If there is one artist who can be described as Nigeria’s World Cup pioneer, it is Femi Kuti. On June 11, 2010, the Afrobeat legend became the first Nigerian artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.
The event took place at Soccer City in Johannesburg as South Africa hosted the first FIFA World Cup ever staged on African soil.
Femi performed his hit song “Beng Beng Beng” before a global audience and shared the stage with an impressive lineup that included R. Kelly, Hugh Masekela, Khaled, Osibisa, TKZee, Hip Hop Pantsula, Thandiswa Mazwai, Timothy Moloi and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
His appearance represented both Nigeria and the rich legacy of Afrobeat music pioneered by his father, Fela Kuti. Looking back, Femi’s performance laid the foundation for a new generation of Nigerian artists who would later become fixtures at FIFA World Cup events.
Conclusion
From Femi Kuti’s historic appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony to Burna Boy, Rema and Davido’s involvement in World Cup 2026 celebrations, Nigerian artists have become increasingly visible at football’s biggest event.
Whether through opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, official tournament songs, countdown concerts or FIFA Fan Festival performances, these musicians have carried Nigerian culture to billions of viewers across the globe.
Their presence is a reflection of Afrobeats’ remarkable rise from a regional genre to a worldwide movement that now commands a place on the same stage as the world’s most celebrated sporting event.
