Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop superstars BTS will headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final, set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The performance, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, mirrors the entertainment format popularised by the Super Bowl and marks a landmark moment in World Cup history.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who announced plans for the show in March last year, described it as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.” The spectacle will also support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup — the largest in history with 48 teams — kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The half-time show follows a precedent set at the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Shakira performed at Hard Rock Stadium, and at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, also at MetLife Stadium, where the entertainment stretched beyond the regulation 15-minute break.
Shakira brings deep World Cup roots to the occasion. She performed at the 2006 and 2014 finals and created the iconic 2010 anthem “Waka Waka.” She is also behind the official 2026 World Cup song, titled “Dai Dai,” produced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The singer teased the track last week in a video filmed at Brazil’s Maracana Stadium, where she appeared on the pitch holding the “Trionda,” the tournament’s official match ball, joined by dancers in the colours of participating nations. The song is due for official release Thursday.
FIFA has also announced plans to “take over” Times Square in New York on the final weekend of the tournament.
