BTS, Bieber, Madonna, Shakira make FIFA halftime history
The historic halftime production signals FIFA’s growing effort to blend football with global entertainment, creating a new tradition for future World Cup finals.
The historic halftime production signals FIFA’s growing effort to blend football with global entertainment, creating a new tradition for future World Cup finals.
K-Pop boy group BTS.
elsa/Agence france-presse
Ronaldinho, Madonna and Ronaldo.
Carl Recine/Agence france-presse
Justin Bieber
Jamie McCarthy/Agence france-presse
Music’s biggest names lit up the FIFA World Cup 2026 final as Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira headlined the tournament’s firstever halftime show, bringing a burst of entertainment to fans during the break of the championship match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, 19 July. Court subpoenas VP’s bank, tax records ‘So we need to examine the extent of her wealth and compare it against her legitimate income.’
Staged at New York New Jersey Stadium, the 11-minute spectacle marked a historic milestone for the FIFA World Cup, introducing a Super Bowl-style halftime performance to football’s biggest stage.
The performance came after a tense opening half, with Spain and Argentina locked in a tightly contested battle before the star-studded lineup took over the stadium.
Madonna opened the show alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, performing a medley of her iconic hits before passing the spotlight to acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Global K-pop superstars BTS followed with a performance of their international hit “Dynamite,” energizing the crowd before fictional football coach Ted Lasso made a surprise appearance to introduce Canadian pop star Justin Bieber.
Colombian singer Shakira then took the stage alongside Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, delivering one of the show’s standout performances. Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance troupe joined Shakira onstage, while the PS22 Chorus and British rock band Coldplay also participated in the special production.
Together, the headlining performers have earned 13 Grammy Awards, underscoring the global appeal of the inaugural halftime show.
Beyond entertainment, the performance also carried a charitable purpose. The event aimed to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative dedicated to expanding access to quality education for children around the world.
The historic halftime production signals FIFA’s growing effort to blend football with global entertainment, creating a new tradition for future World Cup finals while showcasing some of the world’s biggest music icons alongside the sport’s greatest stars.
