The final of the 2026 World Cup held this Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey between Spain and Argentina showcased one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament off the field: Gerard Piqué sitting in the stands with his children Milan and Sasha while his ex-partner Shakira performed during the World Cup halftime show.
It has been the first time since their highly publicized separation in 2022 that Piqué and Shakira have been in the same public venue although no images of them together were captured at any moment, nor did any visible reunion take place.
The video that went viral in seconds
The moment that set social media ablaze was captured during Shakira's performance: Sasha, the younger son of the ex-couple, was seen singing at the top of his lungs "Dai Dai," the official anthem of the tournament, while sitting in the stands alongside his father and his older brother, Milan.
The images displayed a contrast that was hard to ignore: Sasha fully immersed in his mother's performance, while Piqué stood beside him, very serious, showing no visible reaction to the spectacle, the song that thousands of people were chanting at that moment, or the enthusiasm of his own children.
According to HuffPost Spain, the former footballer tried to go unnoticed in his seat throughout the entire performance.
The video became a global trend within minutes.
The attitude of Sasha and Milan with their father
Another widely commented image was the children's attitude towards their father as they formed a small line to enter the stadium.
Piqué was affectionate, smiling, and almost intrusive physically with his children, while the younger ones appeared rather serious and distant, all in view of another group of people who entered the stadium with them.
Without Clara Chía and with all the attention on him
Another detail that did not go unnoticed was the absence of Clara Chía, Piqué's current partner.
In the days leading up to the event, rumors circulated that she would accompany him to the stadium, fueled by photographs of them together in Los Angeles just a few days before the match.
Finally, Clara Chía did not appear at MetLife Stadium.
Piqué attended exclusively with his two children, which further concentrated the media spotlight on his presence while Shakira performed in front of millions of viewers.
The account of TVNotas summarized it in X:
"Piqué splashed by Shakira's success. Their son was supporting her by her side. Awkward? Gerard Piqué was spotted witnessing the overwhelming success of his ex during the World Cup final. And it's said that he had to endure a sweet hint directed at him. His own son was extremely excited and cheering for his mom at the top of his lungs."
Shakira, in her element: Anthem, history, and victory
While all this was happening in the stands, Shakira was experiencing a very special moment in her career.
The Colombian singer performed "Dai Dai" alongside Burna Boy and the Ghetto Kids from Uganda in the first halftime show in the history of the World Cup, sharing the stage with Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Coldplay.
Before the final, Shakira made her position clear in an interview with Juan Carlos Rivero on RTVE: "I have two Spanish children, and obviously, I'm supporting Spain."
Spain won the title 1-0 in extra time thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres, and Shakira celebrated the victory on Instagram, posing with Torres himself and congratulating "her people from Spain."
A circle that closes with 16 years of distance
The moment carries a symbolic weight that has not gone unnoticed by anyone.
It was precisely during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when Shakira sang "Waka Waka" as the official anthem, that the couple met.
Piqué, then a player for the Spanish national team that won that tournament, promised the singer that they would meet in the final.
Sixteen years later, in another World Cup final, his children sang Shakira's new anthem by his side while he stared into space.
As noted by HuffPost España, "both Piqué and Shakira must have many memories brought back by this World Cup. It's important to remember that it was there where everything started for them."
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