Iraqi-born singer Emmanuel Kelly is among the headline performers at the first-ever FIFA World Cup half-time show, alongside Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Madonna.

Kelly says he was found abandoned in a box as a baby and raised by nuns at Mother Teresa's orphanage in Baghdad. Some of his limbs were severely underdeveloped; at the orphanage he became friends with another boy named Ahmed, who had a similar condition.

In 1998, when Emmanuel was around four years old, Australian Catholic humanitarian worker Moira Kelly visited the orphanage, saw their plight and resolved to bring them to Australia for medical treatment. After two years, she succeeded.

Emmanuel and Ahmed arrived in Australia in 2000 and underwent multiple surgeries to receive prosthetic limbs. Moira adopted them that same year; they became Australian citizens in 2009.

In a 2025 interview with FIFA, Emmanuel said the surgery and prostheses enabled him and his brother to be self-reliant for the first time. "We learned all the basic things that people take for granted – walking, feeding ourselves, and so on. Eventually, I decided to pursue entertainment and music."

In 2011, at age 17, Emmanuel appeared on the Australian version of The X Factor, singing John Lennon's "Imagine". The video was viewed millions of times. Although he was eliminated early after forgetting lyrics, it launched his music career.

His brother Ahmed became a competitive swimmer, representing Australia and winning silver in the men's 150-metre individual medley at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

In 2016, as Coldplay prepared for Australian concerts, lead singer Chris Martin saw a video of Emmanuel and arranged to meet him. Kelly was invited onstage at Coldplay's Melbourne concert to sing "Imagine" as a duet.

The two became friends, and in 2024 Kelly was the headline opening act for Coldplay's four concerts in Australia.

Last year, FIFA asked Martin to curate the half-time show at the Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kelly was one of the performers Martin chose, and organisers described him as "the first differently abled artist to headline a FIFA half-time show."

Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina takes place at the same stadium. Martin is again curating the musical performance, and Kelly will perform. FIFA hopes it will be the most viewed half-time show in history.

"What an exciting opportunity to represent true global unity," Kelly said in an Instagram video. "No matter how different you are, you will still be seen."