The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday 19 July 2026 will feature an extended 25-minute half-time show headlined by global superstars including Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, K-pop boy band BTS, and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The performance is curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and will also include appearances from Sesame Street characters and The Muppets to entertain younger audiences.
Half-Time Show Line-Up and Extension
The usual 15-minute half-time break has been extended to 25 minutes to accommodate the setup and clearance of the stage for the live performance. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the line-up earlier this year, stating: "Madonna, Shakira and BTS are global icons whose music transcends borders and generations, and we are proud to welcome them to the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay."
Infantino added: "As the world comes together for the biggest match in football on 19 July 2026 in New York New Jersey, this historic show will also shine a light on a greater purpose by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our shared mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide. It will be a celebration of football, unity and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle."
Closing Ceremony and Other Performances
Before kick-off, the closing ceremony will feature performances from Post Malone, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Laura Pausini. Appearances from Tom Cruise and streamer iShowSpeed are also scheduled.
Match Context: Argentina vs Spain
Argentina aims to win back-to-back World Cups after their 2022 victory over France in a dramatic final that ended 3-3 after extra time, with Argentina winning 4-2 on penalties. France had overturned a two-goal deficit with two quick goals from Kylian Mbappe near the end of regular time. Spain seeks their first World Cup title since 2010, when Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal in extra time against the Netherlands.
The final will also feature a head-to-head between two Liverpool players: Alexis Mac Allister is expected to start for Argentina, while new Liverpool signing Víctor Muñoz will play for Spain.
The match kicks off at 8pm on Sunday 19 July and will be broadcast live on ITV and BBC.
