London (Agencies): British pop star Robbie Williams will perform at the football World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow on Thursday.
The award-winning singer formerly in the band Take That, who is best known for his hit single "Angels", will sing alongside Russian soprano Aida Garifullina shortly before Russia and Saudi Arabia kick off the World Cup at Moscow´s Luzhniki Stadium.
The 44-year-old said in a statement on Monday that performing at the World Cup was "a boyhood dream" and it would be "an unforgettable show".
His song "Party Like a Russian" two years ago sparked controversy in Russia for promoting stereotypes about the country.
It included lyrics about a leader who "alleviates the cash from a whole entire nation, takes loose change and builds his own space station".