Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, delivered a standout moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, joining BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Brazilian superstar Anitta for a live debut of their collaborative track, Goals.
The performance, held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday night, kicked off the tournament in the co-host United States with infectious energy.
The trio, representing Africa, Asia and Latin America, blended Afrobeats, K-pop and Latin pop into a high-octane celebration befitting the world’s biggest sporting event.
In a footage from the Hollywood-style ceremony, Rema took the stage in a striking white hooded outfit, commanding attention as he performed alongside both female artistes
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Goals were released in May as part of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album and produced by Grammy-winning producer Cirkut, alongside Bava and Pink Slip.
The track fuses global sounds and has already become a fan favorite for its upbeat and aspirational vibe. Rema’s verse closes the song with an Afrobeats-inspired rap delivery in which the Calm Down crooner portrays himself as a unique, unstoppable global star who is “scoring goals” in music and life.
Other performers at the ceremony included Future and Tyla. The ceremony took place before US opened its campaign against Paraguay.
Rema’s performance came a day after another Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, joined Colombian pop star Shakira for a live debut of the tournament’s official anthem, “Dai Dai,” at the opening ceremony in Mexico on Thursday.
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