Latest news with #GlobalCitizen
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Global Citizen and FIFA Unite Global Audiences Through Music and Action With Inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™ Final Halftime Show Presented by Panini
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™ Final Halftime Show, presented by Panini, made history yesterday, bringing together a truly international lineup of superstars who captivated audiences worldwide while advancing the opportunity for millions of children to receive access to quality education. The first-of-its-kind halftime show, produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, showcased the power of music to unite cultures and drive meaningful change, and was viewed live around the world. The spectacular show featured artists representing five continents, all of whom donated their time for free, demonstrating music's unique ability to transcend borders and unify the world. Colombian superstar J Balvin brought Latin energy to the global stage, while Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Tems showcased the vibrant sounds of West Africa. GRAMMY-winning American artist Doja Cat delivered an electrifying performance that had the MetLife Stadium crowd on their feet, and Coldplay joined the show for a surprise performance of the band's hit 'A Sky Full Of Stars', featuring a guest appearance from Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly. Against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, the first halftime show at a FIFA event was staged high above the pitch among MetLife Stadium's upper level seats. A dedicated platform and innovative set design built into the stadium's stands provided the impressive crowd with a spectacular show, while also ensuring the pitch remained preserved for the historic match. 'Yesterday we witnessed something truly historic – artists representing the Americas, Africa, Europe and Oceania coming together on football's biggest stage for the first ever FIFA halftime show,' said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. 'This international lineup perfectly embodied the idea that music and football can unite the world, and when we take action together, we can make an outsized impact to help children around the world access quality education.' Major moments from the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™ Final Halftime Show: J Balvin (Colombia) had the entire stadium dancing along to global hits 'Mi Gente' and 'Reggaeton'. His performance, surrounded by drummers and dancers, celebrated Latin culture on the world stage; had the entire stadium dancing along to global hits 'Mi Gente' and 'Reggaeton'. His performance, surrounded by drummers and dancers, celebrated Latin culture on the world stage; Tems (Nigeria) brought Afrobeats to the forefront with 'Love Me JeJe', highlighting the global impact of African music and culture; brought Afrobeats to the forefront with 'Love Me JeJe', highlighting the global impact of African music and culture; Doja Cat (United States) delivered a high-energy performance of her smash hit 'Woman', giving global audiences an unforgettable performance; delivered a high-energy performance of her smash hit 'Woman', giving global audiences an unforgettable performance; Coldplay (UK) surprised the sold out stadium when they took to the stage to play 'A Sky Full Of Stars'. They were joined by Emmanuel Kelly (Australia), whose inspiring story of resilience, having been found on a battlefield in Iraq and living with the aftereffects of chemical warfare, saw him become the first differently abled pop artist to perform in a halftime show. Broadcast live and for free on the halftime event was created as part of a four-year partnership between FIFA and Global Citizen to help improve access to football and quality education for children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Together, FIFA and Global Citizen aim to raise USD $100 million for quality education access worldwide. So far, $10 million has been raised to support literacy, reading, and writing programs. This funding is expected to reach over 150 communities and impact the lives of 10,000 children. (Using a baseline of $1,000 per student per year – which reflects the typical average cost globally of delivering basic P–12 education1.) 'The first of its kind FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, was an unforgettable celebration of how football and music can unite and positively impact the wider global community way beyond the stadium,' said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 'Having artists from five different continents come together at MetLife Stadium perfectly captured the universal language of football and music, and we're proud to partner with Global Citizen, led by Hugh Evans, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise USD 100 million to provide access to quality education and football for children worldwide.' This historic performance marks the beginning of an innovative FIFA-Global Citizen partnership that will extend to produce the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show in the New York New Jersey stadium on July 19, 2026. The show was produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation, Done+Dusted, and DPS. It was directed by Hamish Hamilton with executive producers Guy Carrington, Hamish Hamilton, and Dave Meyers. PRESS KIT: Click HERE to download assets About Global Citizen Global Citizen is the world's leading international advocacy organisation on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday advocates raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the corporate sector. Since the movement began, USD 49 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen's team operates from New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn. 1 Based on publicly available data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and OECD, which show that average annual education spending per primary and secondary student typically ranges from $300–$15,000 depending on income level. A $1,000 figure reflects a conservative global average across low- and middle-income contexts. Expand
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Were Doja Cat and J Balvin paid for performing at the 2025 FIFA halftime show?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup halftime show was a global spectacle, featuring star performers Doja Cat, J Balvin, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly. Held at MetLife Stadium during the tournament's final, the show added massive entertainment value and global appeal. But one major question remains: Were these artists paid to perform? FIFA partnered with Global Citizen to produce the halftime event, aligning the performance with a philanthropic initiative — the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for global education access. Historically, Global Citizen has worked with high-profile musicians who perform pro bono in support of charitable causes. Although FIFA and Global Citizen have not officially confirmed whether the artists received any payment, multiple indicators suggest the artists likely performed without traditional compensation. One dollar from every ticket sold went directly to the education fund, reinforcing the event's fundraising purpose. This collaboration highlights the growing intersection of music and global sports, using celebrity influence to raise awareness and drive donations. For artists like Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin, participating in such events offers global visibility and a chance to support impactful causes — even if it means forgoing a paycheck. With no public confirmation of performance fees, fans and industry insiders are left to speculate. But given the show's nonprofit backing and Global Citizen's legacy, it's likely that the artists donated their time and talent in support of the greater mission.
San Francisco Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities
DETROIT (AP) — Global Citizen is turning to cities as it looks to break through what it sees as widespread political gridlock hindering large-scale action on its goal of ending extreme poverty worldwide. The nonprofit advocacy group has rallied the private sector and foreign dignitaries to solve humanitarian challenges together, driving millions of dollars toward replenishing international aid and eradicating polio since 2008. But Global Citizen co-founder Simon Moss said Thursday it is local officials who are increasingly joining traditional international players in shaping whether communities are equipped to tackle urgent crises. 'We can get beyond partisan politics a lot of the time when you're dealing with a group of people in a city who all literally live there," Moss said. 'That's easier a lot of the time to get real progress compared to waiting on elected officials in capitals, who will often talk a good game and who'll be responsive, but where, in America and many other countries, they're finding it really hard to actually make big-picture policy decisions," he added. The emphasis arose when leaders heard shared concerns from partners across major African and North American cities. In Detroit, which Thursday hosted Global Citizen's first American conference outside New York City, organizers saw an opportunity to highlight a place experiencing population growth after decades-long losses alongside the auto industry's decline. The urban focus also reflects U.N. projections that more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 — a trend that Global Citizen fears will worsen concentrated poverty if local governments don't start creating inclusive economic opportunities. To prevent under-resourced communities from missing the latest technological changes, Global Citizen unveiled a new partnership making artificial intelligence more accessible. Goodera, a company that helps implement corporate volunteer programs, aims to mobilize engineers with the goal of making 10 million people 'AI literate' by 2030. Half of those people will be underserved women and youth, according to Moss. Their first focus will be bridging the digital divide in cities, according to Moss, and Goodera is helping identify those most at risk of getting left behind. They also plan to work with entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted the transformative potential for small business owners during a panel Thursday at Global Citizen NOW: Detroit. ChatGPT can 'write a business plan that's better' than anything he could write, Cuban admitted, and offers access to every piece of business advice out there. George Opare Addo, Ghana's minister of youth development and empowerment, pointed out that farmers are already using the technology's limited availability to better predict weather and improve their yields. But he said that youth must be engaged in its rollout. 'For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it,' he said. Art, food and sports as cornerstones of changing communities Other panelists emphasized the need for cities to build shared cultures by fostering creative scenes and sports fandoms. Global Citizen has recently relied on high-powered sports leagues such as FIFA to raise money for education initiatives. And Cuban — who previously owned the Dallas Mavericks — said no industry unites people around a common cause like sports. 'As things change in a city, the first place you look is the sports team for support, always. Every tragedy, you look to the sports team first, always,' Cuban said. 'And that is so unique. You just don't get that with any other business.' For celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the food industry provides 'spaces that you can have dialogues' and 'opportunities to break bread.' Samuelsson's cuisine, for example, blends his Ethiopian heritage with his Swedish upbringing. Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, recalled growing up eating Lebanese, Polish and Japanese foods in Detroit's diverse culinary scene. That experience, she said, instilled 'a respect for other people's culture out the gate.' 'There has to be a reverence — truly a reverence — for the people who are here and have been here and made the city what it is, no matter what the ebbs and flows are,' she said. As cities change, though, it is local artists who Detroit Poet Laureate jessica Care moore finds are tasked with making sure their histories remain told and their longtime residents remain seen. Good artists, she said, 'paint the pictures that people can't see' and 'ask the questions that nobody's asking.' 'Artists are the pulse of the people,' she said. 'If you turn cities into just places for corporations, then you lose the soul of the city. And Detroit, the soul of our city, are the people that live here.' ___
The Hill
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities
DETROIT (AP) — Global Citizen is turning to cities as it looks to break through what it sees as widespread political gridlock hindering large-scale action on its goal of ending extreme poverty worldwide. The nonprofit advocacy group has rallied the private sector and foreign dignitaries to solve humanitarian challenges together, driving millions of dollars toward replenishing international aid and eradicating polio since 2008. But Global Citizen co-founder Simon Moss said Thursday it is local officials who are increasingly joining traditional international players in shaping whether communities are equipped to tackle urgent crises. 'We can get beyond partisan politics a lot of the time when you're dealing with a group of people in a city who all literally live there,' Moss said. 'That's easier a lot of the time to get real progress compared to waiting on elected officials in capitals, who will often talk a good game and who'll be responsive, but where, in America and many other countries, they're finding it really hard to actually make big-picture policy decisions,' he added. The emphasis arose when leaders heard shared concerns from partners across major African and North American cities. In Detroit, which Thursday hosted Global Citizen's first American conference outside New York City, organizers saw an opportunity to highlight a place experiencing population growth after decades-long losses alongside the auto industry's decline. The urban focus also reflects U.N. projections that more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 — a trend that Global Citizen fears will worsen concentrated poverty if local governments don't start creating inclusive economic opportunities. To prevent under-resourced communities from missing the latest technological changes, Global Citizen unveiled a new partnership making artificial intelligence more accessible. Goodera, a company that helps implement corporate volunteer programs, aims to mobilize engineers with the goal of making 10 million people 'AI literate' by 2030. Half of those people will be underserved women and youth, according to Moss. Their first focus will be bridging the digital divide in cities, according to Moss, and Goodera is helping identify those most at risk of getting left behind. They also plan to work with entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted the transformative potential for small business owners during a panel Thursday at Global Citizen NOW: Detroit. ChatGPT can 'write a business plan that's better' than anything he could write, Cuban admitted, and offers access to every piece of business advice out there. George Opare Addo, Ghana's minister of youth development and empowerment, pointed out that farmers are already using the technology's limited availability to better predict weather and improve their yields. But he said that youth must be engaged in its rollout. 'For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it,' he said. Other panelists emphasized the need for cities to build shared cultures by fostering creative scenes and sports fandoms. Global Citizen has recently relied on high-powered sports leagues such as FIFA to raise money for education initiatives. And Cuban — who previously owned the Dallas Mavericks — said no industry unites people around a common cause like sports. 'As things change in a city, the first place you look is the sports team for support, always. Every tragedy, you look to the sports team first, always,' Cuban said. 'And that is so unique. You just don't get that with any other business.' For celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the food industry provides 'spaces that you can have dialogues' and 'opportunities to break bread.' Samuelsson's cuisine, for example, blends his Ethiopian heritage with his Swedish upbringing. Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, recalled growing up eating Lebanese, Polish and Japanese foods in Detroit's diverse culinary scene. That experience, she said, instilled 'a respect for other people's culture out the gate.' 'There has to be a reverence — truly a reverence — for the people who are here and have been here and made the city what it is, no matter what the ebbs and flows are,' she said. As cities change, though, it is local artists who Detroit Poet Laureate jessica Care moore finds are tasked with making sure their histories remain told and their longtime residents remain seen. Good artists, she said, 'paint the pictures that people can't see' and 'ask the questions that nobody's asking.' 'Artists are the pulse of the people,' she said. 'If you turn cities into just places for corporations, then you lose the soul of the city. And Detroit, the soul of our city, are the people that live here.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
Japan Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities
By JAMES POLLARD Global Citizen is turning to cities as it looks to break through what it sees as widespread political gridlock hindering large-scale action on its goal of ending extreme poverty worldwide. The nonprofit advocacy group has rallied the private sector and foreign dignitaries to solve humanitarian challenges together, driving millions of dollars toward replenishing international aid and eradicating polio since 2008. But Global Citizen co-founder Simon Moss said Thursday it is local officials who are increasingly joining traditional international players in shaping whether communities are equipped to tackle urgent crises. 'We can get beyond partisan politics a lot of the time when you're dealing with a group of people in a city who all literally live there," Moss said. 'That's easier a lot of the time to get real progress compared to waiting on elected officials in capitals, who will often talk a good game and who'll be responsive, but where, in America and many other countries, they're finding it really hard to actually make big-picture policy decisions," he added. The emphasis arose when leaders heard shared concerns from partners across major African and North American cities. In Detroit, which Thursday hosted Global Citizen's first American conference outside New York City, organizers saw an opportunity to highlight a place experiencing population growth after decades-long losses alongside the auto industry's decline. The urban focus also reflects U.N. projections that more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 — a trend that Global Citizen fears will worsen concentrated poverty if local governments don't start creating inclusive economic opportunities. To prevent under-resourced communities from missing the latest technological changes, Global Citizen unveiled a new partnership making artificial intelligence more accessible. Goodera, a company that helps implement corporate volunteer programs, aims to mobilize engineers with the goal of making 10 million people 'AI literate' by 2030. Half of those people will be underserved women and youth, according to Moss. Their first focus will be bridging the digital divide in cities, according to Moss, and Goodera is helping identify those most at risk of getting left behind. They also plan to work with entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted the transformative potential for small business owners during a panel Thursday at Global Citizen NOW: Detroit. ChatGPT can 'write a business plan that's better' than anything he could write, Cuban admitted, and offers access to every piece of business advice out there. George Opare Addo, Ghana's minister of youth development and empowerment, pointed out that farmers are already using the technology's limited availability to better predict weather and improve their yields. But he said that youth must be engaged in its rollout. 'For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it,' he said. Other panelists emphasized the need for cities to build shared cultures by fostering creative scenes and sports fandoms. Global Citizen has recently relied on high-powered sports leagues such as FIFA to raise money for education initiatives. And Cuban — who previously owned the Dallas Mavericks — said no industry unites people around a common cause like sports. 'As things change in a city, the first place you look is the sports team for support, always. Every tragedy, you look to the sports team first, always,' Cuban said. 'And that is so unique. You just don't get that with any other business.' For celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the food industry provides 'spaces that you can have dialogues' and 'opportunities to break bread.' Samuelsson's cuisine, for example, blends his Ethiopian heritage with his Swedish upbringing. Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, recalled growing up eating Lebanese, Polish and Japanese foods in Detroit's diverse culinary scene. That experience, she said, instilled 'a respect for other people's culture out the gate.' 'There has to be a reverence — truly a reverence — for the people who are here and have been here and made the city what it is, no matter what the ebbs and flows are,' she said. As cities change, though, it is local artists who Detroit Poet Laureate jessica Care moore finds are tasked with making sure their histories remain told and their longtime residents remain seen. Good artists, she said, 'paint the pictures that people can't see' and 'ask the questions that nobody's asking.' 'Artists are the pulse of the people,' she said. 'If you turn cities into just places for corporations, then you lose the soul of the city. And Detroit, the soul of our city, are the people that live here.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
