Emmanuel Kelly Added to Lineup For FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show

Emmanuel Kelly will take centre stage for club football’s biggest match.

The Australian singer joins the international lineup for the FIFA Club World Cup Final, alongside previously announced headliners J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems.

On the day, Kelly will become the first differently abled pop artist to perform in a halftime show.

It’s a dream moment for Kelly, who supported Coldplay on the domestic lap of their 2024 Music of the Spheres World Tour.

“To be part of the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show is a dream come true," Kelly comments, "not just for me, but for every differently-abled child who has ever thought their dreams were out of reach."

Produced by Global Citizen, the halftime show is a first for a FIFA event and will play out July 13th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Chris Martin of Coldplay is curating the spot, as part of his ongoing role as international curator of Global Citizen Festival.

"I’m so proud to be representing Australia and to be part of a performance that’s not only historic," adds Kelly, "but also supporting children’s education and opportunity through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.”

Kelly’s story is one of triumph over adversity. Found as an infant on an Iraq battlefield, and born with severely underdeveloped limbs due to chemical warfare in his community, he was raised in a Baghdad orphanage amidst a brutal war. His journey to Australia for life-changing surgery was enabled by the humanitarian Moira Kelly, and allowed the youngster to pursue his love of music.

Last year, Kelly released the EP No Zodiac, featuring the singles “My Sky” and “Right From the Very Start,” produced and co-written by veteran British musician Simon Duffy. Kelly’s ambitions extend beyond the stage and studio to OUTLYER, a full-service entertainment production company.

Global Citizen is spearheaded by Hugh Evans, the Australia-born humanitarian, who was saluted with the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Award for his tireless work to end poverty.

With Evans at the helm as CEO, Global Citizen has emerged as the world’s leading international advocacy organisation driving action to end extreme poverty. Since launch in 2009, some $49 billion in funding commitments have been announced on Global Citizen platforms.

The expanded 32-team Club World Cup runs from June 14th-July 13th in the United States, with teams competing in 12 venues and 11 cities. The final kicks off at 3:00 PM ET and is streamed on DAZN.com.