Nigeria’s cultural footprint will be on display on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages even before the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially begins.
FIFA has selected Nigerian music superstar Davido as one of the headline performers for its World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert series, placing the award-winning artiste at the heart of a global celebration that will connect fans across the tournament’s three host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The performance is scheduled for June 10 in Los Angeles, just days before the competition gets underway. Davido will share the stage with Major Lazer, the internationally renowned music project led by Diplo, while FIFA says more artistes will be announced ahead of the event.
Unlike previous World Cup build-up activities, the 2026 edition will feature a synchronised concert experience spanning the host countries. Live performances from Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City will be linked through a global broadcast, creating a single entertainment showcase that reflects the scale and diversity of the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three nations.
Davido’s inclusion is another indication of the growing influence of African music in major international events. Over the past decade, Afrobeats has evolved from a regional sound into a global cultural force, and FIFA’s decision to feature one of its most recognisable stars reinforces that reality.
The Los Angeles event will take place at the Crypto.com Arena, one of the city's most prominent entertainment venues. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. PT, with the live broadcast beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT.
According to FIFA, the concert series is designed to celebrate the passion, unity and cultural connections that make the World Cup more than a football tournament. The organisation described the Los Angeles show as a high-energy gathering where music, sport and global culture will converge ahead of the competition.
Manolo Zubiria, FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Tournament Officer for the United States, said the initiative captures the spirit of a tournament that will bring together people from across the world. He noted that Los Angeles, recognised globally for its entertainment industry, will host an unforgettable celebration two days before the opening match in the United States.
Fans can begin purchasing tickets from June 3 at 10:00 a.m. PST. FIFA has also confirmed that the event will be accessible worldwide through its digital platforms, with the FIFA World Cup TikTok account serving as the exclusive social media livestream partner.
The celebration will not end when the final performance concludes. FIFA says the full concert, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, will be available the following day on its video-on-demand platform, VuMe Live.
As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathers momentum, one of Nigeria’s biggest musical exports is set to help launch the festivities, ensuring that Nigerian creativity and African sound remain part of the global conversation surrounding football’s greatest spectacle.
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