Global superstar Tyla has revealed that she almost declined one of the biggest opportunities of her career—performing the South African national anthem at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony. Speaking during a candid interview with veteran American radio personality Big Boy, the Grammy-winning singer admitted that nerves and self-doubt initially made her question whether she was ready for such a monumental moment.
The interview, which aired on 24 July 2026, offered fans a behind-the-scenes look at the emotions Tyla experienced before stepping onto one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. On 11 June 2026, she proudly represented South Africa by performing the national anthem alongside the acclaimed Mzansi Youth Choir before Bafana Bafana’s opening match against Mexico.
Despite delivering a memorable performance, Tyla confessed that accepting the invitation was far from an easy decision.
“I was very nervous about it. At first, I was like, ‘No, I don’t think so, I don’t think I’m ready,'” she shared.
The singer explained that the scale of the event initially felt overwhelming.
“When I got the offer, it felt too big for me. And then I was like, ‘F it!'”
Realizing she would regret turning down such a historic opportunity, Tyla decided to embrace the challenge despite her fears.
Reflecting on the experience, she described it as the biggest performance of her career.
“That was the biggest thing I’ve ever done, in terms of the number of people seeing it, and it being the World Cup is such a huge opportunity to be given so early in my career.”
According to reports, Tyla allegedly earned $300,000 (approximately R5 million) for the performance, highlighting just how significant the occasion was both professionally and personally.
Although she appeared calm on stage, Tyla admitted she was battling intense nerves throughout the performance. Standing in front of millions of viewers worldwide, she repeatedly told herself one simple phrase:
“Please don’t faint!”
Fortunately, those fears quickly disappeared once the performance was over. Rather than feeling relieved, Tyla found herself wanting to experience the moment all over again.
The revelation also echoes comments she made after her success at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, where she openly admitted struggling with imposter syndrome despite her achievements. Her honesty continues to resonate with fans, who admire her willingness to discuss the pressures that come with global fame.
The World Cup performance became another defining milestone in Tyla’s remarkable career, placing South African music at the centre of one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.
She wasted no time building on that momentum. Just days after the opening ceremony, Tyla travelled to Los Angeles, where she joined American rap superstar Future on stage at SoFi Stadium to debut their collaborative single, “Game Time.”
From performing her country’s national anthem before a global audience to sharing stages with some of music’s biggest names, Tyla continues to prove why she is one of Africa’s brightest stars. Her story serves as a reminder that even the world’s biggest performers experience moments of doubt—but true growth often begins by saying yes to opportunities that seem impossible.
“I almost turned down $300,000 to perform South Africa 🇿🇦 anthem at the World Cup because I didn’t think I was ready. It felt too big for me. It the biggest moment of my career, and all I kept telling myself before going on stage was, ‘Please don’t faint.’”😭
— Tyla pic.twitter.com/U8Drt4tWXY
— carter🌚 (@carter8f) July 24, 2026
