The first-ever World Cup half-time show featured an 11-minute performance on Sunday with Madonna, Shakira, the Muppets, and a surprise appearance from Ted Lasso. The show also included Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, and Korean pop group BTS.
Star-Studded Lineup
Madonna kicked off the performance in an underground-like warehouse setting, surrounded by dancers and rollerskaters. She performed a remix of her 2000 track Music, singing the lyrics "Music makes the people come together," along with Danceteria. Later, she drove out with Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, strutting onto the pitch in a pink corset, knee-high purple boots, and matching sunglasses.
Muppets and Musical Acts
The show swiftly transitioned to the Muppets from Sesame Street, who covered Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, backed by a full orchestra led by Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, composed of primary school children. BTS then emerged in matching red outfits to perform their hit Dynamite.
Ted Lasso and Justin Bieber
Jason Sudeikis appeared as the title character from the hit TV comedy Ted Lasso, which follows an American coach hired to manage struggling English football team AFC Richmond. Walking along the pitch, he said, "I think we need some heart, someone who can bring the love. You thinking what I’m thinking?" before calling out Justin Bieber. "Make us proud," he added, sending Bieber out to perform an acoustic version of Everything Hallelujah, changing the final lyrics to "It’s the World Cup, Hallelujah."
Shakira and Burna Boy
Shakira appeared in a yellow and pink outfit alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy to perform their World Cup anthem Dai Dai, joined by dancers in matching yellow outfits. The spectacle concluded with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appearing on the pitch with the PS22 Chorus, who sang "We believe in love." Shakira then joined the group with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who curated the show and was spotted in the crowd of singers.
Reactions and Impact
Pundits offered analysis of the first half of the match on either side of the performance, which former England star Wayne Rooney described as "crap." The show extended the interval to about 27 minutes, breaking FIFA's own rules that restrict the break to a maximum of 15 minutes. Half-time entertainment has become a major feature of sporting events in the US, notably during the NFL's Super Bowl showpiece. The World Cup show was staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100 million (£75 million) to expand access to education and football for children worldwide.
Closing Ceremony and Celebrities
Before the match, a string of stars appeared for the tournament's closing ceremony, including Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, pop star Robbie Williams, and US singer Jennifer Hudson. Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and streamer IShowSpeed also performed before kick-off, along with Post Malone and rapper Swae Lee. Other celebrities in the crowd included The Odyssey actor Matt Damon, comedian Will Ferrell, Dune actor Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend, social media star Kylie Jenner, as well as former England footballer Sir David Beckham and his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham.
