Burna Boy is set to perform on one of football’s biggest stages after FIFA confirmed him as part of the lineup for the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final. The Nigerian Grammy-winning artist will share the stage with Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and South Korean group BTS during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at New York Jersey Stadium.

The announcement marks a new direction for FIFA, which has never staged a halftime entertainment show during a men’s World Cup final. Inspired by the Super Bowl format, the performance is expected to take place during the halftime interval.

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According to FIFA, the show is being curated by Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, in collaboration with Global Citizen. The halftime performance also forms part of a wider effort to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that aims to raise 100 million dollars to improve children’s access to education and football programmes around the world.

For Burna Boy, the performance adds another major international appearance to a career that has seen him headline festivals and perform at global sporting and cultural events. This time, he will be part of a lineup that brings together artists from different musical backgrounds for an event expected to attract audiences across the world.

Burna Boy and Shakira will also perform “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Shakira’s involvement carries added significance, having previously recorded and performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which remains one of the tournament’s most recognisable anthems.

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Speaking about the upcoming event, Shakira described the halftime show as “pretty historic,” noting that it will be the first of its kind at a FIFA World Cup final. Her comments reflect the significance of FIFA’s decision to introduce a dedicated musical performance during the championship match.

The inclusion of Burna Boy alongside internationally recognised artists such as Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS places a Nigerian artist at the centre of one of the most anticipated entertainment moments of the tournament. As fans count down to the 2026 World Cup final, the halftime show is expected to add a new chapter to FIFA’s match-day experience while supporting a global education initiative beyond the football pitch.

Ugo Ugochukwu continued his impressive 2026 campaign by delivering a record-breaking performance at Silverstone, where he claimed victory in the FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race and set a new championship record for the largest winning margin.

The Campos Racing driver began the sprint race from pole position after qualifying 12th on Friday, which placed him on reverse-grid pole for Saturday’s sprint. He wasted no time taking control of the race, keeping the lead at the start before gradually pulling away from the rest of the field. By the chequered flag, Ugochukwu had crossed the line 17.023 seconds ahead of second-placed Yevan David, setting the largest winning margin ever recorded in the current FIA Formula 3 Championship.

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The victory was significant for more than one reason. It was Ugochukwu’s second win of the 2026 Formula 3 season, making him the first driver to achieve multiple victories this year. His commanding display also strengthened his position at the top of the drivers’ standings, underlining the consistency that has made him one of the standout performers of the season.

Despite the comfortable victory, Ugochukwu said the weekend did not start well for his team. Speaking after the race, he explained that they struggled with the car early on before making changes that improved its performance. According to the young driver, he did not realise the gap behind him had grown so large until his race engineer instructed him to stop pushing and focus on managing the tyres to the finish.

Born in New York to a Nigerian-Italian family, Ugochukwu has steadily climbed the ranks of junior motorsport after making his name in karting. His performances have continued to attract attention as he works towards his long-term ambition of reaching Formula One. Silverstone offered another reminder of why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in international racing.

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Ugochukwu followed up his sprint race victory with another strong drive in Sunday’s Feature Race, where he fought his way through the field from 12th on the grid. After crossing the line in sixth, Ugochukwu was promoted to third following several post-race penalties and a disqualification, adding another podium finish to an already memorable weekend.

For a driver competing in one of motorsport’s most competitive junior categories, such a commanding victory is a rare achievement. Ugo Ugochukwu’s record-breaking performance at the Silverstone further strengthened his bid for the 2026 Formula 3 championship and added another milestone to his fast growing career.

Media personality Toke Makinwa has once again stirred conversation with her views on relationships, this time sharing why she believes financial compatibility deserves more attention when people choose a partner. Speaking on an episode of MENtality, the podcast hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa argued that many of the disagreements couples face could be avoided if people were more realistic about age, lifestyle and financial expectations before getting into a relationship.

According to her, she believes in dating within one’s age and financial class. In her view, doing so helps reduce unnecessary misunderstandings that often arise when partners have completely different lifestyles or expectations. She suggested that many relationship problems begin when people ignore these differences at the start, only for them to become major issues later.

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Makinwa also addressed a common complaint about women being labelled materialistic. She argued that some men intentionally pursue women whose lifestyles they already know they cannot comfortably maintain, only to criticise them afterwards for having expensive tastes. Rather than placing all the blame on one gender, she maintained that people should be honest about what they can afford and choose partners whose expectations align with their reality.

The media personality also reflected on women who support their partners before financial success arrives. She noted that there are women who remain supportive during difficult periods but later find themselves treated differently after their partners become wealthy. For Makinwa, money does not completely change a person; instead, it has a way of revealing qualities that may have always existed beneath the surface.

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Her remarks have since added to the ongoing conversation about love, finances and compatibility in modern relationships. While opinions remain divided, the discussion highlights a subject that continues to resonate with many people navigating today’s dating scene. Whether people agree with her perspective or not, Makinwa’s comments have once again placed the realities of money and relationships at the centre of public debate.

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