FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop group BTS will be the main performers in the halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final, to be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marks the first time a World Cup final will feature an entertainment program between halves, similar to the Super Bowl.
Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, will serve as the curator for the show. Details revealed on Thursday (March 28) have raised concerns that the halftime break could be longer than the standard regulation time.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Instagram: 'This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show worthy of the world's biggest sporting event.'
According to FIFA, this program is modeled after the show at the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Shakira performed during halftime. Additionally, at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final also held at MetLife, the halftime break exceeded the standard 15 minutes. Previously, Infantino had announced plans to hold a first-ever halftime show at a World Cup final, but did not reveal the artists or duration.
Shakira has a long-standing relationship with the World Cup: she performed at the finals in 2006 and 2014, and also composed the song 'Waka Waka' for the 2010 tournament. Last week, she released a video introducing the new official song for the 2026 World Cup, titled 'Dai Dai,' filmed at Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. The song was produced by Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is expected to be officially released on Thursday (March 28).
The halftime show will raise funds to support FIFA's Global Citizen Education Fund, aimed at raising $100 million for children around the world during the World Cup. In addition, Infantino revealed that FIFA also plans to 'take over' Times Square in New York on the weekend of the final.
The 2026 World Cup, the largest in history with 48 teams, will kick off on June 11 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
