As if there wasn’t enough star power at Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain, the half-time show will take it to another level.
Multi-platinum and award-winning Colombian singer J Balvin is headlining the event at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey and will be joined by Tems and Doja Cat for what surely will be a performance to remember.
On the eve of Sunday’s dramatic finale, FIFA sat down with the Colombian superstar, who has sold more than 35 million records and currently has the No1 song on Billboard Latin Airplay chart with Rio, his 38th chart-topping hit.
“I’m super happy. To me, it’s a blessing to be here as Latino and represent our culture,” said Balvin. “It’s beautiful. And also, being with Tems and Doja Cat, iconic ladies, it’s really beautiful to be here.”
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You could say that Sunday’s finalists and Balvin have plenty in common at the moment. The two clubs are coming off of massive successes in Europe; PSG winning the UEFA Champions League and Chelsea claiming the UEFA Conference League, while Balvin played to jam-packed six-figure crowds as part of a European festival run.
He also reunited with DJ Snake for Noventa, a nostalgic yet modern ‘90s-inspired anthem and follow-up to the global 2019 smash Loco Contigo. On top of everything else, Balvin will be dropping a new album during the half-time show. FIFA were fortunate enough to get a sneak peak of it while visiting with the Medellin native, and no doubt it will make it a Sunday to remember.
“I feel so thankful. I’m really grateful. I’m blessed that I live what I love,” said Balvin. “It’s a blessing, you know. I’m so grateful for every detail, from the smallest to the biggest. To me, everything counts.”
Like any child growing up in Colombia, Balvin developed a passion for football, both playing and watching.
“Culturally, it’s super important as it is in all parts of the world, and as a Colombian, I’ve grown up super close to football. I have great memories of the Colombian teams from when I was a boy,” said Balvin. “I was more of an artist. But yes, I played a lot. I wasn’t good, but I played.”
And while there were no Colombian teams that participated in the tournament, players from the country like Jhon Arias of Fluminense FC and Richard Rios of Palmeiras delivered superb performances to lead their teams on deep runs.
“I’m 100 per cent proud [of how they played],” he said. “To see so many Colombians and Latinos in the various teams here is really wonderful to see.”
With connections to both finalists, Balvin is eager to see how the final will play out between the teams from France and England’s capital cities.
“This final is really epic,” said Balvin. “Good for PSG – they just won over there in Europe and now they are here in the final. It’s pretty impressive. Also for Chelsea. I’m so proud of both of them. I have friends in both teams and people I admire so much, so I can’t wait to see the final.
“I hope they enjoy it, although it will be difficult as they will be competing, but I hope they enjoy the match as if it was their first one.”
It is not lost on Balvin that MetLife Stadium is hosting next year’s FIFA World Cup™ final and nothing would be sweeter than to return to the area to see his national team lift the most coveted trophy in international football.
“It would be incredible because they have been playing very well,” Balvin said of Colombia. “Each time out, I see them as more united, more professional. You can tell that there is a special energy.”
