Back
Qualification image

Photos: Superstars supply ceremonial thrills

See images of esteemed musical artists exhilarating spectators with performances during the opening and closing ceremonies of FIFA World Cups™.

The Three Tenors

The Three Tenors, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, perform by the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome on the eve of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy 1286533704

Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti perform by the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome on the eve of Italia ’90. It was The Three Tenors’ globe-shaking first concert and was marked to celebrate the start of the 14th World Cup. They thrilled spectators with hits such as O Sole Mio, Maria and Nessun Dorma, which became the global finals’ unofficial anthem. It staggeringly drew an international television viewership of over one billion people, and catapulted classical music into the mainstream. Pavarotti was an aspiring goalkeeper until his mother Adele persuaded him against pursuing football.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross performs at the opening ceremony of USA 1994 at Soldier Field in Chicago Bildnummer: 05754552 Datum: 17.06.1994 Copyright: imago/WEREK Sängerin Diana Ross (USA) während ihres Auftritts im Rahmen der Eröffnungsfeier der WM 1994; Vdia, quer, Musik, People, WM 1994, Eröffnung, Feier, Eröffnungsfeier, Zeremonie Chicago Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft Gruppenbild Randmotiv Personen Image number 05754552 date 17 06 1994 Copyright imago WEREK Singer Diana Ross USA during her Presence in frame the Opening ceremony the World Cup 1994 Vdia horizontal Music Celebrities World Cup 1994 Opening Celebrations Opening ceremony Ceremony Chicago Football World Cup men Team Group photo Rand motive Human Beings

‘The Queen of Motown’ performs I’m Coming Out during USA 1994’s opening ceremony at Soldier Field in Chicago. Ross had 12 hits top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart as the lead signer of The Supremes, and another six as a solo artist.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston performs during the closing ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena 17 JUL 1994 : WHITNEY HOUSTON SINGS DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE WORLD CUP BEFORE THE ITALY V BRAZIL 1994 WORLD CUP FINAL AT THE ROSE BOWL STADIUM IN PASADENA CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Billy Stickland/ALLSPORT

The Californian was accompanied on to the stage at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena by Brazil legend Pele. ‘The Voice’ then illuminated an extravagant 1994 closing ceremony with I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), How Will I Know, I Will Always Love You, I'm Every Woman, So Emotional and Greatest Love of All. Whitney was ranked second on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest singers of all time, behind Aretha Franklin.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin performs La Copa de la Vida – the official song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup France – at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis shortly before the final Bildnummer: 00504942 Datum: 12.07.1998 Copyright: imago/Oliver Behrendt Pop-Star Ricky Martin stimmt die Besucher mit dem offiziellen WM-Lied auf das Finale ein; Vneg, quer, Mikro, Mikrofon, Popstar, Entertainment, Musiker, Sänger, Gesang, Künstler, singen, Musikgruppe, Musik, Instrument, Instrumente, Musikinstrumente, Musikinstrument, Trommel, Trommeln, Blasinstrumente, Blasinstrument, Trompete, Weltmeisterschaft 1998, Länderspiel, Finale, Endspiel, Showprogramm, Rahmenprogramm, Show, Paris, Saint Denis, St. Stade de France Freude, Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft Frankreich Totale optimistisch Randmotiv Personen

The Puerto Rican performs the official song for France 1998, La Copa de la Vida, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis shortly before the final. The track, meaning ‘Cup of Life’ in English, reached number one in over 30 countries and was ranked as the best World Cup anthem ever by multiple publications.

Anastacia

Anastacia performs in Busan before the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 1 Dec 2001: Anastacia performs at the World Cup Draw for the 2002 World Cup at the BEXCO Convention Centre, Busan, South Korea. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The Chicagoan, fresh from enjoying major success with I’m Outta Love, performs in Busan before Korea/Japan 2002. Anastacia recorded the tournament’s official song, Boom.

Il Divo & Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton and Il Divo perform the official song for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, ‘The Time of Our Lives’, before the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich Munich, GERMANY: Multi-Grammy Award winner Toni Braxton (C) performs "The Time of Our Lives," the official song of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, at the opening festivities at Munich's World Cup Stadium ahead of the opening 2006 World Cup match between host Germany and Costa Rica, 09 June 2006. Germany went on to win the opening match 4-2. AFP PHOTO / ROBERTO SCHMIDT (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The Simon Cowell-created classical crossover group and the R&B goddess perform The Time of Our Lives, the official song for Germany 2006, before its opening match between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich. The video for the track was shot on a football pitch at night, and features World Cup clips of, among others, Pele, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona and Paul Gascoigne.

Shakira & Wyclef Jean

Shakira and Wyclef perform Hips Don't Lie at Germany 2006 Football - 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(tm) - Final - Italy v France - Olympiastadion , Berlin - 9/7/06.Shakira and Wyclef Jean , Closing Ceremony , Entertainment , Personalities.Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew Couldridge

The Colombian popstar and the Haitian rapper perform at the closing ceremony of Germany 2006. They gave a rousing rendition of her mega-hit Hips Don't Lie at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas perform at the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert at Orlando Stadium in Soweto in 2010 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 10: Will.I.Am, Taboo, Fergie and Apl.De.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas perform on stage at the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert at the Orlando Stadium on June 10, 2010 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo by Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

apl.de.ap, will.i.am, Taboo and Fergie in action at the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on the eve of South Africa 2010. They performed I Gotta Feeling, Boom Boom Pow, Meet Me Halfway, Pump It and Where Is The Love. The Black Eyed Peas have won six Grammy Awards and are one of the best-selling bands in history.

Shakira

Shakira performs Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa at Soccer City in Johannesburg JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Singer Shakira performs "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" with South African band Freshlyground during the Closing Cermony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The Colombian performs Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the closing ceremony of South Africa 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Featuring Cape Town Afro-fusion band Freshlyground, it reached number one on countless charts across the planet, and is in the Guinness World Records for being the most streamed World Cup song of all time on Spotify.

Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull & Claudia Leitte

Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Claudia Leitte during the opening ceremony for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the Arena de Sao Paulo SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: (L-R) Singer Jennifer Lopez, rapper Pitbull and singer Claudia Leitte perform during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Opening Ceremony at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The trio during a performance of the event’s official song, We Are One (Ole Ola), during Brazil 2014’s opening ceremony. They co-wrote it along with, among others, electropop superstar Sia. Curiously, the Brazilian Axé artist’s nickname during her adolescence was ‘Centre-back’, though it was because of her husky voice rather than football.

Carlos Santana, Alexandre Pires & Wyclef Jean

Carlos Santana, Alexandre Pires and Wyclef Jean perform during the closing ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: (L-R) Musicians Carlos Santana, Alexandre Pires and Wyclef Jean perform during the closing ceremony prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

The Mexican-American guitarist, Brazilian pagode musician and Haitian hip-hop artist perform during the The 2014 edition’s closing ceremony at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. They impressed with Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way), which served as the official anthem for the tournament.

Robbie Williams

English singer Robbie Williams performs during the opening ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow TOPSHOT - British singer Robbie Williams performs during the opening ceremony before the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The English singer-songwriter performs during the opening ceremony of Russia 2018 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Williams belted out Let Me Entertain You, Feel and Rock DJ, and did a duet of Angels with Russian soprano Aida Garifullina.

Will Smith, Era Istrefi & Nicky Jam

Will Smith, Era Istrefi and Nicky Jam wave to the crowd after performing during the closing ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Will Smith (L), Nicky Jam (R) and Era Istrefi (C) perform ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia final match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia on July 15, 2018. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The triumvirate wave to the crowd after performing during the closing ceremony of Russia 2018 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. They performed the official song for the tournament, Live It Up, prior to France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final.

Jungkook

Jungkook of South Korean supergroup BTS perform during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally retouched and converted to black & white) Jungkook of BTS performs during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The BTS megastar performs Dreamers during the opening ceremony of Qatar 2022, which was narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The track reached number one on the US Digital Song Sales chart.