World Cup Isn't Just About Soccer: A Sneak Peek at 4 Major Musical Highlights Featuring Global Icons

(Central News Agency, New York, 10th, Comprehensive Foreign News) This World Cup is not just about soccer. FIFA is leveraging the charm of music superstars to transform it into a global cultural festival, reaching a vast audience beyond just fans. It will feature simultaneous concerts across multiple countries and, for the first time, a star-studded halftime show at the final. Here are 4 major musical highlights to look forward to.

Celebrations will kick off just before the World Cup begins, with simultaneous concerts in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, featuring international superstars and local heavyweight artists.

The star-studded lineup includes American pop icon Katy Perry, Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, American rapper Future, Brazilian superstar Anitta, K-pop star Lisa, and Nigerian singer Rema.

These major stars will share the stage with artists who have strong fan bases in their respective countries, including Mexican band Los Angeles Azules, Bollywood singer Nora Fatehi, and French rapper Vegedream.

Clayton Durant, a music industry entrepreneur and professor at New York University, said, "FIFA and its marketing team are actively using music as the main axis to connect audiences around the world."

This strategy is not a first. FIFA launched the FIFA Sound program back in 2021, aiming to connect with global audiences through a shared passion for football and music.

The most anticipated highlight of the tournament will be the halftime show at the final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

This will be the first-ever concert-style halftime show in World Cup history, featuring American pop icon Madonna, Colombian Latin superstar Shakira, and South Korean supergroup BTS.

Hugh Evans, CEO of the non-governmental organization Global Citizen, which is organizing the show, said the dream lineup is based on "the spirit of uniting the world." The show is being personally curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, aiming to highlight "the best of humanity" and "everything that brings us together."

Evans noted that the production budget for this event is extremely high, rivaling that of the Super Bowl halftime show. According to sources, the production cost is estimated to be between $10 million and $20 million (approximately NT$320 million to NT$640 million).

However, the participating superstars will be performing for free, without pay.

For the official theme song of this World Cup, FIFA chose Shakira, a sure bet. She sang the 2010 World Cup theme song "Waka Waka," which became a global phenomenon and a classic of its era.

The theme song for this tournament, "Dai Dai," is co-produced by Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy, skillfully blending Latin pop and Afrobeat rhythms.

Artists performing in these globally broadcast concerts will undoubtedly gain immense exposure. Durant said that performing artists will face "countless fans who may have never heard their name before, leading to massive attention and consumption of their music and intellectual property."

This World Cup also creates a new opportunity for veteran musicians like Madonna. Now 67, she has not had a major hit in years since her 2005 album "Confessions on a Dance Floor." (Compiled by Zhang Mingxuan) 1150611