Burna Boy, Shakira and a Group of Slum Kids Just Owned the World Cup Halftime Stage

Burna Boy and Shakira lit up the World Cup final halftime show with Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, and the story behind their inclusion will move you.

Before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina kicked back into gear, something bigger than football unfolded on the pitch. Burna Boy and Shakira turned the halftime break into a full-blown spectacle, and the real showstoppers weren’t even superstars, they were a group of dancing kids from Uganda.
The performance had everything: colour, rhythm, star power. But it’s the story behind those kids that’s got people talking days later.

Burna Boy and Shakira weren’t strangers to this stage. They’d already introduced the World Cup’s official anthem, “Dai Dai,” back at the tournament’s opening match in June. The final gave them a chance to bring it full circle, and this time, they weren’t doing it alone.

Dressed simply but impossible to miss thanks to his height and presence, Burna Boy shared the spotlight with Shakira, who lit up the stadium in yellow and pink alongside her dancers. Fans caught glimpses of the two artists warmly embracing in the days leading up to the show, teasing what was coming.

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Here’s the part that hit different. Joining them was Ghetto Kids, a Ugandan dance troupe known for their explosive energy. Shakira later explained exactly why she wanted them there.
She’d seen a video of children dancing with instruments made from wooden boards, strings, bottle caps and wire,  no proper gear, just raw joy. Many of the kids, she learned, were orphans or from desperately poor homes.

It reminded her of her own upbringing in a low-income neighbourhood back in Colombia.
So she brought them to the biggest stage in sport, letting them feel, even briefly, what it’s like to belong somewhere that big.

The Burna Boy and Shakira set wasn’t the only highlight. Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and IShowSpeed all took turns performing, turning the break into a mini concert of its own. IShowSpeed’s rendition of his song “Champions” and his playful backstage moment with BTS added extra buzz online.