FIFA confirms Emmanuel Kelly for 2026 World Cup final half-time show
The event, featuring global artists including Shakira and BTS, marks the first time a differently abled artist has headlined a FIFA half-time performance.
FIFA has confirmed that Iraqi-born Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly will headline the half-time show for the 2026 World Cup final. The performance, scheduled for Sunday, 19 July 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Kelly will perform alongside a roster of international artists including Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Madonna.
The final match will see Spain face Argentina, who secured their place in the championship by defeating England 2-1 in the semi-final in Atlanta on 15 July. The half-time show is expected to be the most viewed in history, with Martin describing the event as an opportunity to represent "true full-scale global unity."
Kelly’s inclusion in the lineup marks a significant shift in FIFA’s approach to inclusivity, with the organisation describing him as the first differently abled artist to headline a FIFA half-time show. Born in Baghdad and abandoned as a baby, Kelly was raised at Mother Teresa’s orphanage alongside his friend and eventual adoptive brother, Ahmed. Both boys suffered from severely underdeveloped limbs and underwent multiple surgeries in Australia after being adopted by humanitarian worker Moira Kelly in 2000.
Kelly became an Australian citizen in 2009 and began his musical career after appearing on the Australian version of The X Factor in 2011. His career gained significant momentum in 2016 when he performed a duet of John Lennon’s Imagine with Chris Martin at a Coldplay concert in Melbourne. This collaboration led to Kelly serving as the headline opening act for Coldplay’s four Australian concerts in 2024.
The performance follows Kelly’s appearance at the Club World Cup final half-time show in New Jersey last year, which was also curated by Martin. His brother, Ahmed Kelly, has represented Australia in competitive swimming, winning a silver medal in the men’s 150-metre individual medley at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
