Madonna, Shakira And BTS To Headline First-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show

Madonna, Shakira and BTS to headline first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show FIFA has announced that global music icons Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop supergroup BTS will headline the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final, marking a historic shift in the tournament’s entertainment tradition. The announcement was made via FIFA’s official Instagram account, confirming that the performance will take place during the 2026 World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States.The halftime show will be curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and produced in partnership with Global Citizen, with a focus on supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise funds to improve access to education and football for children worldwide. According to FIFA, the initiative will also include donations of $1 from every match ticket sold throughout the tournament to the education fund.The World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will be the first edition to feature an expanded format with 48 teams and 104 matches. In the announcement video shared by FIFA, Chris Martin appeared alongside characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, while members of BTS also made a cameo appearance confirming their participation. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the halftime show as a “historic moment” designed to merge music, football, and global unity, positioning the World Cup final in a similar entertainment style to the Super Bowl. The decision has sparked widespread discussion among football fans, with some praising the global star lineup and charitable mission, while others argue it represents a shift away from traditional football culture. Despite debate, the event is expected to become one of the most-watched entertainment segments in sports history, given the combined global fanbases of Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.