The half-time interval in the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be the longest in the tournament's history, breaking the standard 15-minute rule. An 11-minute show co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and K-pop boy band BTS will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium this evening.
The spectacle has been described by governing body FIFA as a "landmark celebration at the intersection of sport, music and global impact." The main headliners will be joined by Burna Boy for the special performance. Shakira and Burna Boy are expected to perform their World Cup 2026 anthem, Dai Dai, with Madonna appearing on stage weeks after releasing her number one album, Confessions II.
The show will also see BTS perform months after returning to the world stage following their four-year hiatus to allow the group's seven members to complete their country's compulsory military service.
Broadcast and Charity
It is expected that both the BBC and ITV will screen the full show, with punditry filling the gap while the stadium staging is put up and taken down. The half-time show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise money to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide.
Rule Breach and Pre-Show
The laws of the game stipulate that a half-time break must not last any longer than 15 minutes, however the half-time show taking place on the pitch will extend the interval. The final will also be preceded by the official World Cup closing ceremony. Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson will perform. The event will take place 90 minutes before kick-off and will also feature performances from Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini and streamer IShowSpeed. Jennifer Hudson is set to deliver a rendition of the US national anthem.
Previous Precedent and Match Details
Last year's Club World Cup final also staged a half-time show, which saw the break run for 24 minutes. Looking ahead to this evening's World Cup final, viewers can expect to watch kick-off at 3pm local time, which is 8pm in the UK. The 2026 World Cup champion will be crowned today as Spain and Argentina face off. Thomas Tuchel's England side were just minutes away from reaching this evening's final but it ended in a heartbreaking 2-1 semi-final collapse against Argentina. England's players reacted in Saturday's third-place play-off and secured bronze in Miami, where Bellingham came off the bench to wrap up a 6-4 win against France. This was the nation's best men's World Cup performance since lifting the trophy in 1966.
