Uganda’s world-renowned dance troupe, the Ghetto Kids, are set to perform alongside Colombian music superstar Shakira during the closing ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New York.
The exciting collaboration was confirmed by Shakira on Friday, July 17, 2026, who shared her admiration for the group in a heartfelt social media post while revealing they had already arrived in New York ahead of the global showpiece.
“The @ghettokids_tfug from Uganda have changed our lives. Spending time with them has been magical and has taught us so much! I’m so happy to finally have them here in NY to dance with me at the World Cup Final!” Shakira wrote.
The highly anticipated performance marks another milestone in the Ghetto Kids’ remarkable journey from the streets of Kampala to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Sharing the stage with Shakira at the FIFA World Cup final will place the Ugandan dance troupe in front of millions of viewers across the globe, further cementing their growing international profile.
In May, Shakira saw a video of the Ghetto Kids performing to Dai Dai, the official theme song to the 2026 World Cup that she recorded with Nigerian singer Burna Boy, and invited them to perform with her in the halftime show of the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July.
The dancers were ecstatic. “We jumped around all over the place. Everyone was smiling. We couldn’t believe it. We danced all night,” King recalls.
FIFA World Cup performance
The expected performance comes after Shakira announced that the award-winning dance group had been selected to feature in the FIFA World Cup final entertainment programme.
“I’ve decided to invite as many of you as I can to dance with me… So I’ve already invited the Ghetto Kids from Uganda, but I really, really would like to see all of your creations and your videos,” the Waka Waka star revealed.
Responding to the monumental news, Ghetto Kids manager Dauda Kavuma expressed the immense pride felt by the entire camp and the continent at large.
Confirming the invitation, Kavuma revealed that the group had proactively sent a clip of their choreography to Shakira’s team, hoping for a shot at the big stage.
“We recorded a video and sent it to her with a request that we perform with her at the World Cup final. We are grateful that she accepted our request,” Kavuma stated on Wednesday, proudly labelling the achievement a “dream come true for Uganda and Africa”.
The troupe has built an international reputation through its energetic dance routines, inspiring story and viral performances, earning invitations to perform on some of the world’s biggest stages.
2026 FIFA World Cup Final
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be held in New York/New Jersey, with the championship match taking place at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
