Shakira Reflects on How the World Cup Shaped Her Life and Family: “It Was Destiny”

Shakira is opening up about her deeply personal connection to the FIFA World Cup, revealing that the global tournament did much more than just elevate her music career—it completely altered the course of her personal life.

In a candid interview with People, the Colombian superstar looked back at her history with soccer’s biggest stage, noting that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa served as a massive turning point.

Meeting Piqué and the “Waka Babies”

It was during the 2010 tournament that Shakira met Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué while filming the music video for the event’s official anthem. The pair went on to build a family, welcoming their two sons, Milan and Sasha.

The singer hilariously revealed that she still cracks jokes about the tournament’s permanent impact on her household.

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“I often call my boys my ‘Waka babies’ because I believe everything that followed in my life started thanks to that iconic song,” Shakira shared.

A History of World Cup Anthems

Shakira’s legendary run with the tournament spans two decades of massive global hits:

• 2006 (Germany): Captivated global audiences with a special tournament performance of “Hips Don’t Lie.”
• 2010 (South Africa): Dropped “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” a track she credits with completely changing her life’s trajectory.
• 2014 (Brazil): Returned with “La La La (Brazil 2014),” a milestone she remembers as deeply emotional since she was secretly pregnant with her youngest son, Sasha, at the time.

When asked why she keeps returning to the global soccer stage, Shakira put it simply: “Destiny.”

Headed for the 2026 Final

The pop icon’s World Cup journey is hitting another high note during the current tournament. Following her massive opening ceremony performance alongside Burna Boy, Shakira is officially set to return to the pitch for a highly anticipated performance at the World Cup grand final, cementing her status as the undisputed queen of soccer’s biggest event.