Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS will star in an unprecedented show during the half-time of the World Cup final this Sunday. “This is shaping up to be the largest gathering of artists for a charitable cause since Live Aid,” Hugh Evans tells EL MUNDO, referring to the 1985 festival that brought together the biggest music stars to raise awareness about hunger in Africa. The co-founder of the NGO Global Citizen, the organization producing the show in collaboration with Live Nation and Done + Dusted, previews: “Some of the biggest hits from these artists will be shared on stage.”
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The show aims to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which seeks to gather 100 million dollars to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. So far, it has already surpassed 50 million: with each ticket sold to watch the matches, one dollar has been allocated to this cause. Additionally, the NGO receives donations on its website.
Evans also highlights donations to this cause made by Canada and Portugal. “We expect to receive more from other countries in the coming days. Since the best footballers from Spain will be in the final in a few days, we would love for President Pedro Sánchez to also join the celebration,” requests the co-founder of Global Citizen.
The funds raised will be granted to various programs in 200 countries. “This will translate into more than 400,000 children gaining access to quality educational opportunities. We help local organizations promote literacy and access to sports,” explains Evans. One of the supported projects is a school for deaf children in Pretoria (South Africa). “The education fund is enabling them to have cochlear implants, which helps them learn at the same pace as any other child.”
Next Sunday, American pop will merge with Latin rhythms and the modern sound of Asia in a 11-minute show. “The great thing about this lineup is that we have artists from every continent except Antarctica,” jokes the producer. “The first message of this show is for love and unity at a time when the world desperately needs it.”
For the little ones
With the artistic direction of Chris Martin from Coldplay, at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, made up of students from a public school in Staten Island (New York), will also perform. Additionally, for the little ones, the Muppets and Sesame Street characters will join. “What started as an idea a few years ago has become something much bigger than we ever imagined.”
For Shakira, this will be the fourth World Cup where she sings for the whole planet. In the 2006 Germany edition, she sang Hips Don’t Lie, in South Africa 2010 she performed Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), and in Brazil 2014 she sang La La La. “When the Venezuela earthquake happened, she called me and asked that we work together on it immediately. She once told me: ‘I care about two things: making music and making sure children get education.’ And I have seen how much she cares,” emphasizes Evans.
Despite the magnitude of this show, it will last only a few minutes. However, the event has received criticism because the players’ break time could be extended up to half an hour. “Our setup and teardown are extremely fast. We are very respectful of the game and we know the only reason we can do a show during halftime is because football is wonderful,” justifies Evans. He adds: “I would also say this is one of those few moments when the whole planet can come together. So I would encourage everyone to accept that education for children worldwide is urgent.”
