Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has been confirmed as a headline performer at FIFA’s official World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert, cementing Nigeria’s unprecedented presence at the biggest football tournament on earth.
FIFA announced on Tuesday that Davido will perform at the Countdown Concert scheduled for June 10 in Los Angeles, United States, as part of activities leading up to the expanded World Cup, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host.
Davido will share the stage with Major Lazer, the music project led by American DJ and producer Diplo, during the Los Angeles leg of the concert series. The event is part of a synchronised live entertainment programme that will connect audiences across the three host nations through music, football, and cultural performances ahead of the tournament.
“Los Angeles will play host to a high-energy celebration, featuring Diplo’s Major Lazer and Davido, the first artists announced for what promises to be an unforgettable night of music, football and culture,” FIFA said in a statement.
The concert will take place at the Crypto.com Arena, with doors opening at 5 p.m. local time and the live show expected to begin an hour later. The event is being organised in partnership with the Grammy Awards and will be streamed worldwide through FIFA’s digital platforms, including TikTok. Davido and Major Lazer are the first artists confirmed for the Los Angeles show, with FIFA indicating more performers will be announced before the event.
The Los Angeles concert is one of three Countdown Concerts being held across the World Cup host countries, with performances in Toronto and Mexico City also connected through a live broadcast designed to bring together football fans across North America.
Tickets for the Los Angeles concert go on sale Wednesday, June 3, at 10:00 a.m. PST.
This is not the first time the Grammy-nominated artist has been called upon by the world football governing body. In 2022, Davido featured on “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” one of the official songs of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, before performing during the tournament’s closing celebrations. That performance reached around 250 million viewers worldwide.
Davido’s selection is part of a broader, historic moment for Nigerian music on the global stage. With Davido headlining FIFA’s countdown concert, Rema performing at the opening ceremonies, and Burna Boy lending his voice to the tournament’s anthem, Nigeria’s music industry is set to enjoy unprecedented visibility as the world turns its attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Burna Boy has already made his mark after teaming up with Colombian superstar Shakira for “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, released through Sony Music Latin and FIFA. The song blends Burna Boy’s globally recognised Afrobeats sound with Shakira’s Latin pop style, delivering a message of unity, resilience, and football’s universal appeal.
Ayra Starr is also reported to be featured on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album.
FIFA’s Chief Tournament Officer for the United States, Manolo Zubiria, described the concert series as a celebration of football’s unique power to unite cultures. “The Countdown Concert series celebrates the passion, unity and cultural connections across three countries and around the world that define the FIFA World Cup 2026,” he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 12, with the United States hosting the opening match.
