YouTube and the National Football League today announced GRAMMY® Award-winning global recording artist KAROL G will perform at the halftime show during YouTube’s first exclusive NFL live broadcast* of the 2025 NFL São Paulo game on Sept. 5.
From Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, the Week 1 matchup between the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers will stream free on YouTube for fans around the world. Coverage begins with YouTube’s pre-game show at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BRT (local time) with the game kicking off at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. BRT (local time).
“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,” said KAROL G. “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.”
A member of YouTube’s “Billion-View Club” with nearly 30 billion views on her YouTube channel, KAROL G has solidified her place as one of the most powerful forces in global music captivating audiences with her boundary-pushing sound and chart-topping hits. Her latest release Tropicoqueta has amassed over one billion streams across platforms, with the music video for her single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” earning over 947 million views on YouTube to date. Amplifying her record-shattering streak, the album marked KAROL G’s third consecutive Top 3 entry on the Billboard 200 chart and fourth consecutive #1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and earns the largest streaming week of the year for a Latin album by a woman. Additionally, she broke her own record on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, landing 20 songs simultaneously including 18 debuts from Tropicoqueta. With a set of barrier-breaking achievements, she continues to trailblaze in the global music world and beyond.
“This broadcast is a landmark moment in our partnership with the NFL, where the worlds of football, music and creators will powerfully collide,” said Angela Courtin, VP of connected TV and creative studio marketing at YouTube. “From the real-life manifestation of our creator community in São Paulo to a global icon like KAROL G taking the stage at halftime, this partnership with the NFL is a testament to our shared vision. It's about more than just a game; it's a statement that the future of live sports and entertainment is global and connected.”
“Returning to São Paulo this season is extremely special. 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,” said Tim Tubito, senior director, global game presentation and entertainment at the NFL. “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.”
This game marks a major milestone as YouTube’s first-ever exclusive live NFL game, offering fans a free and accessible way to watch the game. It is also a key part of the ongoing collaboration between the NFL and YouTube, which has transformed how millions of fans engage with football. Last year alone audiences watched over 350 million hours of official NFL content on the platform. The partnership, now entering its third season with NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube, continues to deliver a dynamic and multifaceted experience from this exclusive live game to content from YouTube’s top creators and artists.
In addition to KAROL G's performance, the broadcast will feature some of the world's most popular YouTube creators with more talent announcements to be made later this month.
The NFL will continue to celebrate the incredible sounds of Latin America throughout the 2025 São Paulo game. Prior to kickoff and a curated in-game sound lineup, local Brazilian star Ana Castela will perform the country’s National Anthem Hino Nacional Brasileiro alongside GRAMMY® and Emmy nominated American composer and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington who will perform the U.S. National Anthem.
Fans in the U.S. can set a reminder here to make sure they don’t miss a second of the action.
*Game available via YouTube globally, except in Canada, and certain other countries. In keeping with long-standing NFL policy, the game will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television in the local markets of the participating clubs.