Golden Hour appeared early in the World Cup.
Shakira took to the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday for her first halftime show of the tournament, bathed in the warm tones of the setting sun. The venue was covered in over 200,000 Swarovski crystals.
The Colombian superstar performed the official 2026 World Cup anthem “Die Die” with Burna Boy, wearing a custom Roberto Cavalli look designed by the house’s creative director Fausto Paglisi.
The plunging lace-up bodysuit had deep cutouts on the sides, and her long skirt was made of strips of hot pink and yellow chiffon that swung with the movement of her hips. Swarovski said the crystals, which were hand-embroidered for more than 120 hours over two weeks, sparkled in the stadium lights.
Paglisi told Vogue that Shakira requested a sunset color palette. He found his answer in Mexico City’s La Condesa neighborhood. There, a particular pink building with orange doors and yellow window frames caught his eye during his travels.
Shakira told the magazine: “I wanted a look that felt powerful, fun and celebratory. It reflected the energy of the performance while also honoring the importance of the occasion.”
The outfit was reminiscent of her performance of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The two looks, a neon crop top and silk fringed skirt for the closing ceremony and a black-and-white tribal print for the opening ceremony, were designed by Cavalli when the namesake designer was still at the helm of the house. The late designer passed away in April 2024, and Mr. Puglissi has been leading the house since 2020.
Shakira told Vogue that this weekend’s look was meant to bridge two eras. “This is a full-circle moment. The colors are similar,” she said. “We pay homage to the past and look to the future.”
The singer performed barefoot for much of her set before reappearing on stage with the PS22 chorus for the show’s finale, wearing coordinating pink and yellow boots and gold Swarovski sunglasses.
Her 34 backup dancers also wore Roberto Cavalli, appearing in two variations of the same sunset palette. One with a criss-cross crop top and matching skirt, the other with a sleeveless T-shirt and baggy pants.
The halftime show for the Spain-Argentina final, organized by Coldplay’s Chris Martin for the FIFA Global Citizenship Education Fund, featured conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading the orchestra and performances by Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS.
