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Rema, Lisa, Anitta shine at World Cup 2026 opening ceremony

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, BLACKPINK's Lisa, and Brazilian singer Anitta debuted their song 'Goals' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles.
  • The performance blended Afrobeats, K-pop, and Latin pop, representing Africa, Asia, and Latin America at the start of the tournament co-hosted by the United States.
  • The song 'Goals,' released in May, is part of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album and features Rema's aspirational rap verse.

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema, alongside BLACKPINK's Lisa and Brazilian star Anitta, ignited the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony with the live debut of their track 'Goals.' The performance, held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, marked the tournament's kickoff in the United States, blending Afrobeats, K-pop, and Latin pop into a vibrant celebration.

Goals was 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.

Information about the song 'Goals'.

Rema, clad in a striking white hooded outfit, commanded the stage with the two female artists. 'Goals,' produced by Grammy winner Cirkut, Bava, and Pink Slip, was released in May as part of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album. The song is noted for its upbeat and aspirational vibe, with Rema's closing verse portraying him as an unstoppable global star.

The track fuses global sounds and has already become a fan favourite for its upbeat and aspirational vibe.

Description of the song 'Goals'.

Other performers at the ceremony included Future and Tyla. The event preceded the US team's opening match against Paraguay. This performance followed another Nigerian artist, Burna Boy, who debuted the tournament's official anthem, 'Dai Dai,' with Colombian singer Shakira at the opening ceremony in Mexico the previous day.

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.

Description of Rema's contribution to the song 'Goals'.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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