Tyla embraced the clear heels trend while performing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in Mexico City, where she sang the South African national anthem before her home country faced Mexico in the tournament’s opening Group A match.
The “Chanel” singer performed the song while in Jeffrey Campbell‘s Booyah style, a sandal with a wedge heel featuring a cutout in it and an upper consisting of a wide transparent vinyl strap. The shoe also features a metallic ring detail around the heel which helps to further distinguish it. From Jeffrey Campbell, the Booyah style in white retails for $170, while the tan suede version is $195.
Tyla paired the shoes with a color-blocked body-con dress that was sleeveless with a knee-length hemline that flared slightly. She wore her hair in an updo with a lock falling down from the bun.
Tyla is never one to shy away from a bold or unexpected shoe choice. For the 2026 Met Gala, the singer and Pandora ambassador was outfitted in head-to-toe Valentino Garavani, including her aquamarine-hued Open Toe Révélé Pumps, which featured a dramatic front cutout. She has also favored more classic styles, like Christian Louboutin’s So Kate Pump and Miu Miu slingback pumps for red carpets and more formal settings.
When it comes to performance shoes, however, her style runs the gamut. At the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, where the “Chanel” singer both hosted and performed, she cycled through several silhouettes, from Rene Caovilla’s Cleo Satin Crystal Snake Wrap sandals to Nike Dunk Low sneakers to Gladiator-style sandals.
Who is Tyla? Meet the South Africa national anthem singer for 2026 World Cup opening ceremony originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
At just 24 years old, Tyla has already taken the global music scene by storm. She won the first Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2024 and has pop hits galore.
Now, with South Africa back in the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, Tyla will be the one singing the National Anthem for her country.
This is a long time coming for South Africa, both in terms of its World Cup appearance and global music acclaim. Tyla’s song “Water” became the first song by a South African soloist to reach the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years.
Here is everything to know about the young, up-and-coming South African singer.
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Who is Tyla?
Tyla is a 24-year-old singer from Edenvale, South Africa, a small city on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
With her 2024 Grammy win at just 22 years old, Tyla became the youngest African artist to take home the award. This happened just a few years after Tyla took a break from her mining engineering studies to sign a deal with Epic Records.
Today, Tyla is a chart-topping superstar, with recognizable songs like “Water,” “Chanel” and “PUSH 2 START.” She has won three EMAs at MTV’s Europe Music Awards, two BET Awards and two VMAs.
As perhaps the most recognizable South African in the global music scene today, she was a slam dunk choice to sing the national anthem before South Africa’s return to the World Cup stage.
MORE: Full list of World Cup 2026 opening ceremony performers
Tyla net worth
According to Capital Xtra, Tyla’s net worth is estimated to be between $8-15 million in 2026.
Tyla relationship status
Tyla is not currently in a relationship with anyone. In the past, she has shot down rumors about dating Travis Scott and others.
Lyrics to South African national anthem
South Africa has 12 official languages, with the most recent, South African Sign Language, being added in 2023. Because of the vast array of languages, the South African anthem is not in one or two or three languages, but five. These include Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans, Sotho and English.
English lyrics:
God bless Africa
May her horn rise up highHear our prayers
Lord bless us, as your children.Lord we ask You to protect our nation,
End all conflicts and troubles
Protect us, protect our nation,
The nation of South Africa, South Africa.From the blue of our heavens
From the depths of our sea,
Over our eternal mountain ranges
Where the cliffs give (the) answer.Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa, our land.Lyrics as its sung:
(Xhosa) Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo(Zulu) Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.(Sotho) Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa, South Afrika, South Afrika.(Afrikaans) Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
Waar die kranse antwoord gee.(English) Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa, our land.
Tyla’s World Cup appearance also connects to “Game Time,” her track with Future from the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ album, which she is set to perform on Friday. The project includes songs from artists including Daddy Yankee, Jelly Roll, Shakira, the Rolling Stones and more. “Being part of the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ album feels like a full circle moment — from South Africa hosting the World Cup in 2010. I’m so excited to perform at the opening ceremonies! Let’s go Bafana Bafana,” Tyla said in an official release.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19, with 48 countries participating in 104 matches throughout the tournament. Tyla is also slated to appear at the U.S. opening ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday, where she joins a lineup that includes Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Lisa and Rema before the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif.