Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr made a surprise appearance at an MLS match on Saturday night for the clash between New York Red Bulls and CF Montréal at Red Bull Arena, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Grammy-nominated singer joined the pre-match festivities, where she participated in the ceremonial “send the bulls” ritual while wearing a customised Red Bulls outfit.
Her appearance quickly caught the attention of fans inside the stadium and online, with videos of the moment going viral across social media.
Afrobeats star energises MLS crowd
The “Rush” hitmaker interacted with fans, signed autographs and posed for photos while the stadium crowd cheered.
Clips shared online showed Starr dancing and celebrating with the club’s mascot and cheerleaders as fireworks lit up the arena.
Watch Ayra Starr light up Red Bull Arena here:
Ayra Starr makes an appearance at the NY Red Bulls Vs CF Montreal match tonight pic.twitter.com/X6kyaqG3Pn
— (@AlbumTalksHQ) March 8, 2026
During the match, Starr’s latest track was played over the stadium speakers, prompting fans to dance during a “Move Cam” segment displayed on the giant screen.
Her appearance forms part of the singer’s growing push into the North American market, as Afrobeats continues to gain global recognition.
Montréal spoil Red Bulls’ night
While Starr brought the entertainment, the result on the pitch favoured the visitors as CF Montréal secured an emphatic 3–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
Prince Owusu opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the eighth minute before Wiki Carmona struck twice in the 44th and 68th minutes to seal a comfortable win for the Canadian side.
The defeat marked the first loss of the season for the Red Bulls under head coach Sandro Schwarz, leaving the club with an early-season record of one win, one draw and one defeat.
Despite the disappointing result for the home fans, Starr’s presence remained one of the most talked-about moments of the night, with supporters praising the Nigerian singer for bringing Afrobeats flair to an MLS stage.
