By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigerian Grammy winner Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, etched her name into history on Sunday night as the first African artist to perform at the FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show.
Held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, the inaugural halftime show was a landmark cultural addition to FIFA’s expanded 32-team tournament. Tems headlined the 15-minute performance alongside global superstars Doja Cat and J Balvin. The show also featured surprise appearances by Coldplay and Emmanuel Kelly.
Jointly produced by FIFA and Global Citizen, the show began with J Balvin performing his hits “Mi Gente” and “Reggaeton.” Tems followed with her Grammy-winning single “Love Me JeJe,” captivating the audience with her vocals and presence. Doja Cat energized the crowd with “Woman,” before Coldplay closed with “A Sky Full of Stars,” joined by Kelly.
Though Tems has yet to publicly comment on the performance, it marks another milestone in her global rise, following recent appearances at the Met Gala and on major Hollywood soundtracks.
The halftime spectacle came during a dominant performance by Chelsea FC, who defeated European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to win the first-ever edition of the expanded Club World Cup. Cole Palmer starred with two goals and an assist, while João Pedro added a third. PSG’s João Neves was sent off late in the match, capping a disappointing night for the French side.
The final drew over 81,000 spectators, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, adding political star power to the high-profile event.
Chelsea’s victory crowns a remarkable season for the London club, who also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.
