FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira and K-pop group BTS will headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final.
The performance is expected to take place during the final of the 2026 World Cup on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The BBC understands the show will run for approximately 11 minutes, marking a major shift in how football’s biggest match is presented on the global stage.
Pre-match entertainment has become common at major sporting events such as the UEFA Champions League final, but FIFA’s decision to introduce a Super Bowl-style half-time performance at the World Cup final is being viewed as a landmark moment for the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously described the show as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Shakira is also preparing to release the tournament’s official song, Dai Dai, featuring Burna Boy. The track follows her previous World Cup anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), which became one of the most recognisable songs of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
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Madonna, often referred to as the “Queen of Pop”, is currently preparing to release her upcoming album Confessions II in July. The singer recently made a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella performance, where the pair performed Vogue and Like A Prayer together.
Meanwhile, BTS are continuing their return to music after completing mandatory military service in South Korea. The seven-member group, one of the best-selling acts in K-pop history, are expected to perform during a break in their ongoing world tour.
The half-time show is being curated by Chris Martin and will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at raising funds to support children’s education around the world.
