Shakira debuted a custom Roberto Cavalli outfit during the first FIFA World Cup halftime show, performing the official tournament anthem with Burna Boy. The Swarovski-covered design referenced sunset colors and connected the singer’s 2026 appearance with her previous FIFA World Cup performances.
Key Takeaways
- Shakira wore a custom Roberto Cavalli outfit during the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show.
- The look featured more than 200,000 Swarovski crystals.
- Creative director Fausto Puglisi designed the performance costume.
- The color palette was inspired by sunset tones and architecture in Mexico City.
- The outfit referenced Shakira’s Roberto Cavalli looks from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Shakira World Cup outfit made its debut during the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show, with the Colombian singer performing the tournament’s official anthem, “Dai Dai,” alongside Burna Boy. Designed by Roberto Cavalli creative director Fausto Puglisi, the custom performance costume featured more than 200,000 Swarovski crystals and incorporated design elements intended to connect Shakira’s latest FIFA appearance with her previous World Cup performances.
Shakira World Cup Outfit Debuts During Halftime Performance
Shakira appeared during the first official FIFA World Cup halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of a lineup curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Her performance followed her role in the 2026 World Cup opening celebration, where she helped launch the tournament with a live appearance.
The singer wore a custom Roberto Cavalli ensemble consisting of a plunging lace-up bodysuit with deep side cutouts and a coordinating flowing chiffon skirt. The costume featured shades of hot pink, golden yellow and orange, creating a color palette inspired by sunset tones.
The performance included large-scale choreography with dozens of dancers dressed in complementary colors. Shakira performed much of her set barefoot before changing accessories during the closing moments of the halftime presentation.
The custom design accompanied her performance of “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which she performed together with Burna Boy.
The halftime production also featured performances by Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Coldplay during FIFA’s first official World Cup halftime show.
Roberto Cavalli Creates Custom Swarovski Design
More Than 200,000 Swarovski Crystals
Fausto Puglisi created the custom performance outfit for Roberto Cavalli specifically for Shakira’s appearance during the World Cup final.
According to Swarovski, more than 200,000 crystals were hand-embroidered onto the costume over approximately 120 hours across a two-week production period. The crystal detailing covered both the bodysuit and elements of the accompanying skirt.
The design emphasized movement during the performance, with the layered chiffon skirt creating flowing visual effects as Shakira danced across the stage.
The costume combined embroidery, crystal embellishments and lightweight fabrics suited for a live stadium performance.
Roberto Cavalli has designed several performance looks for Shakira across major international events, continuing a longstanding creative collaboration between the singer and the Italian fashion house.
Sunset-Inspired Color Palette Shapes the Costume
Inspiration From Mexico City
Puglisi stated that the color palette originated from observations made while visiting Mexico City.
According to the designer, a building in the La Condesa neighborhood featuring a pink exterior with orange and yellow accents inspired the combination of colors ultimately used in the costume.
The finished design blended vibrant shades of pink, gold and orange throughout the bodysuit and flowing skirt.
Shakira also explained that the sunset-inspired colors aligned with the atmosphere she wanted to create for the halftime performance while celebrating the significance of the occasion.
The coordinated wardrobe extended beyond the singer. Her backup dancers wore Roberto Cavalli costumes in matching color schemes, creating visual consistency throughout the performance.
The combination of bright colors and crystal embellishments reflected the lighting design used during the halftime production inside the stadium. Burna Boy’s appearance during the performance also came as Afrobeats continued gaining international visibility following recognition for emerging artists such as Billboard’s African Rookie of the Month.
Performance Look Connects Two FIFA World Cup Eras
The 2026 performance outfit also referenced Shakira’s previous appearances during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
She performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” during both the opening and closing celebrations of the 2010 FIFA World Cup while wearing Roberto Cavalli designs created under the brand’s founder, Roberto Cavalli.
Those earlier costumes included a neon crop top paired with a fringed silk skirt during one appearance and a black-and-white tribal-inspired ensemble during another World Cup event.
Puglisi has served as Roberto Cavalli’s creative director since 2020 following the designer’s appointment to lead the fashion house.
Shakira stated that the new costume represented a connection between her earlier World Cup performances and her appearance at the 2026 final, describing the design as a tribute to both the past and the present.
The continued collaboration between the singer and Roberto Cavalli created visual continuity across multiple FIFA performances spanning more than a decade.
Finale Styling Completes the Halftime Presentation
Accessories Added for the Finale
During most of the halftime performance, Shakira remained barefoot while performing choreography alongside her dancers.
For the closing segment, she added coordinating pink-and-yellow ankle boots together with gold Swarovski sunglasses before returning to the field alongside the PS22 Chorus during the finale.
The backup dancers also wore two variations of Roberto Cavalli costumes. One group appeared in coordinated crop tops and matching skirts, while another wore sleeveless tops paired with loose-fitting trousers using the same sunset-inspired palette.
The halftime show concluded with Coldplay joining conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus as performers gathered for the closing presentation supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Chris Martin, who curated the halftime lineup, recently led the band during the Coldplay Glastonbury livestream performance before overseeing the World Cup entertainment program.
The custom wardrobe remained one of the defining visual elements of Shakira’s appearance during FIFA’s inaugural halftime show, complementing the large-scale choreography, lighting effects and stage production presented during the World Cup final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Shakira’s World Cup 2026 outfit?
Shakira’s performance outfit was designed by Fausto Puglisi, the creative director of Roberto Cavalli.
How many Swarovski crystals were used in Shakira’s performance outfit?
According to Swarovski, the custom costume featured more than 200,000 hand-embroidered Swarovski crystals.
What inspired the colors of Shakira’s World Cup costume?
The color palette was inspired by sunset tones and architecture in Mexico City’s La Condesa neighborhood, where Fausto Puglisi found the visual inspiration for the design.
How did Shakira’s 2026 outfit reference her 2010 World Cup performances?
The costume used similar vibrant colors and continued Shakira’s collaboration with Roberto Cavalli, referencing the outfits she wore during the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening and closing celebrations.
What did Shakira wear during the FIFA World Cup halftime show?
Shakira wore a custom Roberto Cavalli ensemble featuring a crystal-covered lace-up bodysuit, a flowing chiffon skirt, coordinated ankle boots for the finale and gold Swarovski sunglasses.
