Tems Makes History in Halftime Spectacle at FIFA Club World Cup Final

Grammy-winning Nigerian powerhouse Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, made history by becoming the first African artist to headline a halftime show at a FIFA Club World Cup Final—held at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey .

Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and produced in partnership with Global Citizen, the show featured an electrifying across-genres lineup, with J Balvin opening with Latin reggaeton anthems, Tems mesmerized fans with her Grammy-winning track “Love Me JeJe”, blending soulful Afrobeats with potent stage presence  and Doja Cat followed with her hit “Woman”, while Coldplay joined in a surprise closing performance of “A Sky Full of Stars” alongside Emmanuel Kelly .

Hosted during the dramatic final of the expanded, 32-team Club World Cup that ran from June 14 to July 13 across 11 U.S. cities, the evening saw Chelsea’s 3‑0 triumph over PSG.

This first-ever halftime entertainment segment at a FIFA competition wasn’t just about spectacle, it served as a launchpad for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund aiming to amass $100 million to support children’s education worldwide. Fans were encouraged to become part of this movement, with $1 from each ticket supporting the cause .

Tems joins an exclusive club of global superstars—like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez—who have performed on FIFA’s biggest music stages. With this legendary moment now behind her, Tems continues to ascend—already breaking barriers as the first African woman to co-own a Major League Soccer team, solidifying her unique blend of influence in music and sports.