Nigerian Grammy-winning artiste, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first African musician to perform at the FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show.
The performance took place on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the highly anticipated final of the global tournament.
Tems was announced as a headliner for the show by FIFA and Global Citizen, who co-produced the event.
The singer, known for hits like “Essence”, “Free Mind” and her latest album “Born in the Wild”, performed to a global audience of football and music lovers. Her set featured a mix of powerful vocals and elegant stagecraft, showcasing her signature Afro-fusion sound.
Tems now joins an exclusive list of global stars like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez who have performed on the FIFA stage.
This milestone adds to her growing list of international achievements. She recently became the first Nigerian female artiste to debut at the Met Gala and has been featured on soundtracks for major Hollywood films.
Social media has been flooded with praise from fans and fellow celebrities, hailing the moment as “a win for Nigeria” and “proof that Tems is in a league of her own.”
Tems has yet to release an official statement, but her team shared behind-the-scenes photos of and soundcheck on Instagram, captioning them with, “History loading…”
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 took place in the United States, with top clubs from around the world battling for the ultimate prize in global club football.
