Madonna, Shakira and K-pop supergroup BTS will headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final, organisers announced on Thursday.
The historic performance is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium during the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to FIFA, the show will be curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and is expected to mirror the entertainment style traditionally associated with the Super Bowl halftime show in the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a landmark moment for global football entertainment.
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino said in a post on Instagram.
The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 national teams.
While FIFA has not officially disclosed the expected duration of the halftime performance, the move has already sparked discussion among football fans over whether the break will exceed the traditional 15-minute interval.
The concept follows entertainment showcases seen at recent major football tournaments, including the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Shakira performed during halftime.
FIFA also staged a halftime show at the Club World Cup final last year at MetLife Stadium, where the interval reportedly extended beyond regulation time.
Infantino further revealed that FIFA plans to stage fan activities and entertainment events in Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament.
The halftime show will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at raising $100 million for children worldwide during the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Shakira recently teased the official song for the 2026 World Cup titled “Dai Dai,” produced alongside Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy.
The singer shared a promotional video filmed at the iconic Maracana Stadium, where she performed excerpts of the song while holding the official World Cup match ball.
Shakira has maintained a long-standing association with the World Cup, having performed at previous tournaments and produced the globally popular 2010 anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
