Shakira and MrBeast Agree to Build Schools in Colombia Following World Cup Meeting
Shakira and YouTube creator MrBeast discussed constructing schools in Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19. Barranquilla surfaced as a potential site. Actor Tom Cruise joined the conversation and suggested the Colombian city for construction.
The talk appeared in a video that MrBeast posted and Colombian media shared. MrBeast, born Jimmy Donaldson, asked his followers whether they should proceed with the work in Latin America. Shakira said, “We should build schools,” and a handshake sealed it.
The singer mentioned that her country lacked sufficient schools. She proposed they collaborate. Barranquilla is where the artist grew up, and she launched Fundacion Pies Descalzos in 1997.
This organization has constructed schools and created education programs for children and communities grappling with economic hardships in Colombia. The foundation’s existing work might provide groundwork for what comes next, though officials haven’t approved any new school tied to this proposed partnership.
Donaldson has bankrolled projects across multiple countries using his massive online following. In January 2026, his operation paid for 1,000 surgeries in Kenya for individuals who couldn’t afford medical care.
Colombia isn’t new territory for him. MrBeast donated homes to low-income Colombian families in 2024. A year later, he tackled a clean-water initiative in La Guajira that delivered a solar-powered water system and purification setup to Wayuu communities, supplying clean water to over 1,000 residents.
Beast Industries hit a reported $5 billion valuation during a recent funding round. Some estimates place the creator’s personal wealth near $1 billion, but these numbers haven’t been verified through audits.
This school building discussion stands apart from the reconstruction effort announced after the artist visited Quibdo on Aug. 17. She committed personal resources during that trip to rebuild the Universidad Tecnológica del Choco Diego Luis Cordoba.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is partnering with Fundación Pies Descalzos to construct 10 schools throughout Quibdo and surrounding rural areas. Choco saw damage to nearly 200 schools after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10.
Initial reconstruction funding reaches $1.25 million. The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund contributed $500,000, Live Nation added $500,000, and CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, put in $250,000.
The World Cup chat hasn’t produced a binding agreement between the two celebrities yet. Location, financing, how many schools, and who implements the plan are still open questions.