FIFA confirms global superstars for historic World Cup final halftime spectacle
Coldplay’s Chris Martin to curate the performance at MetLife Stadium, marking a significant shift in the tournament’s entertainment strategy ahead of the expanded 48-team competition.
FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira and K-pop group BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Coldplay’s Chris Martin will curate the performance, which marks the first half-time show in a football World Cup final. The event aims to support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, targeting $100 million for children worldwide.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the announcement as a historic moment on Instagram, stating it would be a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world. The move mirrors the spectacle held during the final of the 2024 Copa America in Miami, where Shakira performed at Hard Rock Stadium. It also follows the precedent set by last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, also at MetLife Stadium, which featured a half-time show that stretched the break in excess of the regulation 15 minutes.
The programme details released by the governing body have raised concerns about how long the half-time interval will be extended. Infantino first announced the intention to hold a half-time show at a World Cup final in March of the previous year, though specific performers and duration were not disclosed at that time. FIFA also plans to take over New York’s Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in history, featuring 48 teams, and will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament kicks off on 11 June. Shakira has a long association with the event, having performed at the 2006 and 2014 World Cup finals and created the 2010 anthem Waka Waka.
Shakira recently teased the new official World Cup song, titled Dai Dai, in a video filmed at Brazil’s Maracana Stadium. The song is produced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is set for official release on Thursday. The clip, shared by the FIFA World Cup account, shows the singer holding the Trionda, the official match ball of the 2026 tournament, while performing excerpts of the track.
