Karol G will headline the halftime show for YouTube’s first exclusive NFL live broadcast, slated to take place at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil, in September. The Week 1 showdown on Sept. 5 will feature the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs against the Los Angeles Chargers, with YouTube streaming the game for free.
Celebrating a Latin American-Gameday fusion, the event will also showcase Brazilian country star Ana Castela performing Brazil’s national anthem, and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington performing the U.S. national anthem. Karol G spoke about the milestone, saying it’s an honor to bring her music to a global stage and to be part of YouTube’s first-ever NFL live broadcast.
Executives from YouTube and the NFL underscored the significance of the collaboration. Angela Courtin, VP of Sports and Entertainment Marketing at YouTube, described the broadcast as a landmark moment where football, music, and creators converge to illustrate the future of global, connected live entertainment. Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of Global Game Presentation and Entertainment, noted the league’s strong Brazilian and international fan base and the effort to tap into the wider Latin pop music scene with a globally minded artist.
The game will stream on YouTube with a pre-game show beginning at 7 p.m. ET and kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, marking a new era of accessible, cross-border sports entertainment for fans around the world.
Why this matters: This event signals a strategic push by the NFL and YouTube to broaden the league’s footprint in Latin America and among global music fans by pairing a widely followed Latin pop star with a marquee NFL matchup. It also highlights Brazil’s growing role as a hub for international sports broadcasts and creator-led content, offering new revenue and engagement pathways for teams, leagues, and artists alike.
Additionally, this setup could boost interest in future NFL games broadcast on digital platforms in non-traditional markets, while giving Karol G and other Latin artists a high-profile platform on a global stage. For fans, it promises a vibrant, culturally infused viewing experience that blends sport and music in a single event.
If you’d like, I can add a concise summary, a quick viewer guide for first-time YouTube NFL streamers, or a short sidebar highlighting Karol G’s recent hits and why this collaboration resonates with Latin music fans. Positive angle: the partnership showcases innovation in live entertainment and offers a hopeful outlook for more globally connected sports events and creator-driven programming.