FIFA Updates

The Black Eyed Peas model a variety of futuristic World Cup strips

Black Eyed Peas, Amadou & Mariam and Shakira are among the performers announced for the opening gala for this year’s World Cup. Western pop stars will appear alongside fringe acts such as BLK JKS and Tinariwen at what organisers are calling “the greatest entertainment event to date in Africa”.

The concert will take place on 10 June, at Orlando Stadium, in Johannesburg’s Soweto district. More than 30,000 people are expected to pack into the arena, with millions more tuning in at home. “It is testament to the universal and unifying power of football and music,” said the FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, neglecting to mention the roles of scantily-clad pop singers and hysterical nationalism.

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