Karol G To Perform Halftime Show In Brazil During YouTube’s First NFL Broadcast

YouTube is going all out for its first-ever National Football League broadcast. The streaming platform owned by Google announced that global superstar Karol G will perform at halftime during its exclusive broadcast of the Sept. 5 NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

The week 1 matchup takes place at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, marking the second consecutive year the NFL visits the South American nation. This year’s game will stream free on YouTube for fans across the globe with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. PT.

“I’m so excited to be part of YouTube’s first-ever NFL live broadcast; it’s truly an honor and a moment I’m so proud to be part of,” Karol G said in a release. “I’ve watched many NFL halftime shows over the years and now having this opportunity to bring my music to this global stage means the world to me. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone in São Paulo and fans all around the world.”

Karol G is a member of YouTube’s “Billion-View Club” with more than 30 billion views on your channel, and the Colombian star dropped her latest album, Tropicoqueta, in June. She last performed in Brazil in 2024 at the Rio de Janeiro megafestival, Rock in Rio.

With Karol G performing the halftime show in São Paulo, companies continue to eventize NFL games, which average more than 17 million viewers per contest, by incorporating music. After acquiring the rights to Thursday Night Football, Amazon developed Amazon Music Live, a program that features a notable artist performing in front of a live audience and is livestreamed on Prime Video and Twitch.

Though YouTube is the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, which allows fans to watch every game each week, the platform has never broadcast a game for all viewers without a subscription fee.

Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director, global game presentation and entertainment, says that the league’s return to São Paulo this season “is extremely special.” The broadcast will also feature some of the most popular YouTube creators, and additional talent will be announced later this month. Brazilian singer Ana Castela will perform the country’s national anthem before the game, and she will be accompanied by Grammy-nominated composer and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who will perform the U.S. national anthem.

“With our incredible NFL fan base in Brazil and across the world, we worked hand-in-hand with our YouTube partners to tap into the larger Latin Pop music scene with an innovative, global artist,” Tubito adds. “We’re thrilled to welcome Karol G and a fantastic lineup of local talent to the 2025 São Paulo game, honoring the sounds of Latin America and delivering those tuning in globally a historic performance on YouTube.”