Music legend Lauryn Hill made a surprise appearance at the FIFA World Cup draw 2026; however, viewers at home fumed over the “stale” crowd at the Kennedy Center.
13:38 ET, 05 Dec 2025
Lauryn Hill’s performance did not go down well with the FIFA World Cup draw audience
Lauryn Hill shocked all as she did a surprise performance at the Kennedy Center for the FIFA World Cup draw 2026. Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum hosted the event and made the surprise announcement as she took to the stage.
Lauryn performed to her best ability as usual, with fans at home praising the star. It became a family affair with YG Marley and her son, Zion Marley, also joining in the show-stopping performance. She covered YG Marley’s ‘Praise Jah Moonlight’ while also performing her hit ‘Doo Wop (That Thing).
However, it was noticed that the FIFA World Cup crowd at the Kennedy Center did not react to the performance. This angered fans at home who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to blast the “stale” crowd.
Lauryn Hill performing alongside YG Marley
One wrote: “Lauryn Hill performing to the only crowd that won’t appreciate her.” A second added: “The legendary Lauryn Hill asking the stiff #FIFA congress crowd for some movement, knowing damn well she isn’t going to get any movement out of these lot.”
A third added: “Bunch of old men in suits in the crowd, Lauryn Hill, they don’t deserve you!” A fourth continued: “Lauryn’ Hill’s performance fell flat with the crowd.”
A fourth echoed: “Lauryn Hill – “If you’re feeling good, put your hands on the air!” Not a single person in the crowd puts their hands up. This is one of the most awkward events I’ve ever seen.”
READ MORE: Gianni Infantino snubs Kevin Hart as awkward World Cup draw moment spottedREAD MORE: Donald Trump gifted first ever FIFA Peace Prize and claims he’s saved ‘millions’
This wasn’t the only Lauryn talk of the evening, with many viewers quipping about her usual lateness to these types of events. The singer built a reputation for being chronically late to her concerts. One viewer quipped: “The draw is so late that even Lauryn Hill managed to turn up when it started.”
A second added, “The draw running behind schedule, dare I say late, and having Lauryn Hill push it back even further is classic. That’s what we call CULTURE, you uncultured swine.” A third echoed: “That’s how you know the World Cup draw’s late, Lauryn Hill is performing.”
Lauryn’s son also took to the stage
Lauryn has spoken out about her lateness in recent years. She previously remarked, “They say, ‘She’s late a lot. Yo, y’all lucky I make it on this stage every night.”
She continued: “I don’t do it because they let me do it. I do it because I stand here in the name of God. God is the one who allows me to do it, who surrounded me with family and community when there was no support, when the album [1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill] sold so many records and no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one?
Hill concluded: “So I went around the world, and I played the same album over and over and over and over again. Because we’re the survivors. We’re not just the survivors; we’re the thrivers.”
