FIFA has unveiled a star-studded entertainment line-up for the 2026 World Cup final, confirming that global music icons Madonna, Shakira and K-pop sensation BTS will perform during a historic Super Bowl-style
half-time show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. The announcement marks the first time a FIFA World Cup final will feature a dedicated half-time concert of this scale.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will begin on June 11 and is expected to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date. FIFA president Gianni Infantino first revealed plans for a half-time spectacle in March last year, describing it as a landmark moment for football’s biggest event.
Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, the show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,… pic.twitter.com/H2c2mc9q0b
— Coldplay (@coldplay) May 14, 2026
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” he said on social media.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been tasked with curating the production, which has already sparked major discussion about how FIFA plans to manage the traditional 15-minute interval during the final. Similar concerns arose during the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Colombian superstar Shakira’s half-time performance extended the break well beyond regulation time.
Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, the show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,… pic.twitter.com/H2c2mc9q0b
— Coldplay (@coldplay) May 14, 2026
FIFA World Cup Final Half-Time Show?
FIFA also staged a musical performance during last year’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, further signalling its ambition to blend global entertainment with football’s showcase occasions.
In addition to the final, Infantino confirmed that FIFA intends to “take over” New York’s Times Square during the tournament’s concluding weekend, adding to the festival atmosphere surrounding the championship match.
The half-time event will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise 100 million dollars for children worldwide during the tournament.
Shakira, meanwhile, continues to strengthen her connection with football’s biggest stage. The Colombian singer recently teased the official World Cup song “Dai Dai,” produced alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The track was previewed in a short video filmed at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana Stadium.
Shakira famously performed “Waka Waka,” the anthem for the 2010 World Cup, and has also appeared at the 2006 and 2014 finals, making her one of the most recognisable musical figures associated with the tournament.
(With inputs from Agencies)
