World Cup halftime show to feature global stars

5 months By Chumasande Matiwane

The first-ever World Cup final halftime show will feature Shakira, Madonna, and K-pop superstars BTS, as announced by FIFA on an Instagram post.

Also see: Global Stage: Tyla booked for dual performances at FIFA World Cup 2026 openings

The World Cup Final is scheduled for July 19 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium and is anticipated to attract millions of viewers worldwide, in addition to its attendees.

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A post shared by FIFA World Cup (@fifaworldcup)

As the World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, matches are expected to be played in multiple locations across the US, Canada and Mexico.

Also see: Shakira teases new song for the FIFA World Cup 2026

The final halftime, which is curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will be produced by Global Citizen and will benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino teased the inaugural performance at a World Cup event in March 2025, saying “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”

The official rules of soccer state that halftime breaks should not exceed 15 minutes. It is still unclear whether it will be changed to accommodate the performance.

Also see: 2026 World Cup countdown officially begins

Feature Image: Gettys

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