Shakira, The Weeknd join FIFA education drive for 2026 World Cup

Shakira and The Weeknd have joined the FIFA Global Citizen Education board ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The Latin music superstar and Canadian hitmaker will work with other leading figures across entertainment, sports, and business, including Ivanka Trump, Hugh Jackman, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans, and Serena Williams, in overseeing the fund’s efforts to make education more accessible around the world.

FIFA is teaming up with Global Citizen to leverage the power of football to improve education for children worldwide.

The goal is to raise $100 million (£75 million) for education efforts, with Global Citizen aiming to service 100,000 children across more than 200 communities worldwide.

The celebrities involved will draw on their own personal experiences and careers to provide guidance and ensure that the fund “achieves maximum impact” ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, according to a media release.

Global Citizen’s partnership with FIFA comes at a time when 350 million children worldwide are currently not in school, according to the organisation.

News of the board’s A-list membership comes seven months after the March announcement that Coldplay’s Chris Martin will curate FIFA’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show for the 2026 World Cup.

The final is set to take place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.