Shakira has a personal connection to the World Cup

Shakira's sons "were born" because of the World Cup.

The 49-year-old singer wrote the official song of the 2010 tournament, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) and subsequently met soccer star Gerard Pique at the tournament, with the couple - who split in 2022 - going on to be parents to Milan, 13, and 11-year-old Sasha.

And as a result, the Hips Don't Lie hitmaker will always have fond memoiries of the song and the soccer competition.

She told People magazine: “That's why I call my kids the Waka kids; I think they were born because of that song.

"That song took me to the World Cup, the World Cup had an important impact in my life, and they were born — the best thing that has happened to me.

"Then in 2014, I was pregnant with Sasha, with my little one, and all of my fans, they saw me perform, and they're like, 'Shakira's pregnant.' And I was like a month pregnant — I was like two months maximum, but they know me so well."

The Whenever, Wherever singer's sons are already showing signs of following in the footsteps of their famous parents.

She said: "They both enjoy sports and music.

"They both play instruments and sing, and the oldest one, he plays the drums, guitar, the bass, piano.

"But he's crazy about [soccer]. I'm crazy about sports, and he's a real soccer expert. He knows every statistic, every result of every game, the history of every player. It's absolutely impressive.

"And then the little one is very, very creative, and he's like a visual artist, a graphic artist and also musical, very, very artistic."

The youngsters are already her biggest critics.

She said: "When they go to the concerts, they come out with notes and they pass me their notes, very critical.

"They've also learned so much about my career, and they're always giving me opinions and comments and criticism. 'Mom, you got to watch this and that!'"

Shakira will return to the World Cup this summer for the first ever halftime show during the final, where she will co-headline with Madonna and BTS, and she has also teamed up with Burna Boy for this year's official tournament song, Dai Dai.

She said: “Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically.”

All of her royalties from Dai Dai will go to FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which provides kids around the world with access to education and soccer, and Shakira hopes the song offers a powerful message to them.

She said: “It's a message for every child who's been told that their dream is too big.

“And to remind us that every champion started out as a kid who perhaps went through hardship and struggles, but there was someone that believed in them, and that's why they didn't give up.”