Fifa has announced that Shakira, Madonna and K-pop group BTS will headline the first-ever half-time show at a World Cup final, scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, mirrors the Super Bowl-style entertainment seen at other major sporting events.
The half-time extravaganza will support Fifa’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the tournament. Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirmed the plans on Instagram, calling it “a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world”.
The 2026 World Cup, the largest ever with 48 teams, kicks off on 11 June across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The half-time show has raised concerns about the length of the break, as last year’s Club World Cup final at the same venue extended beyond the regulation 15 minutes.
Shakira, who performed at the 2024 Copa America final half-time show, last week teased the new official World Cup song titled Dai Dai, produced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The song is set for official release on Thursday. Shakira previously created the 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka and performed at the 2006 and 2014 finals.
Infantino also revealed that Fifa plans to “take over” New York’s Times Square on the final weekend of the World Cup. The half-time show is a first for a football World Cup final, following similar initiatives at the Copa America and Club World Cup.
