The agency, which has offices in Loughborough, London and Dubai, will represent Kelly as he brings his story to public speaking audiences across business, education and beyond, following his confirmation to perform alongside stars including Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS at what is set to be the most spectacular half-time sporting show in history.
Kelly made history as the first differently abled artist to headline a FIFA halftime show, having performed at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, where he duetted with Coldplay’s Chris Martin on “A Sky Full of Stars” in front of tens of thousands in the stadium and millions watching worldwide.
Confirming his World Cup 2026 appearance via Instagram, Kelly said he hoped the performance would show audiences that “you can look different, and still be seen.”
Mark Matthews, Senior Agent at Champions Speakers said:
“Emmanuel’s story is one of the most powerful we’ve had the privilege to work with,” he said. “He’s not just an extraordinary talent, he’s someone whose journey genuinely changes how people think about what’s possible. To have him confirmed for the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is an incredible moment, and we’re delighted to help bring his message of resilience and inclusion to even wider audiences through public speaking.
“This is exactly the kind of talent we love working with at Champions, people who inspire as much as they entertain. We’re looking forward to supporting Emmanuel as this next chapter of his career unfolds.”
The signing comes as Champions, continues to expand its roster of high-profile speakers, having recently been named SME of the Year at the British Business Awards, an accolade presented by Hollywood actor George Clooney at a ceremony in Edinburgh. The agency, founded by Hayes family in 2003, has grown into the largest keynote speaker bureau and talent agencies in the UK and Europe, working with a network of around 8,000 speakers and delivering thousands of events annually across 66 countries.
