Madonna, Shakira, BTS to co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup's halftime show

Ahram Online , Friday 17 Jul 2026

Football and music will share the spotlight at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday as FIFA stages its first-ever halftime show, bringing together an international lineup of performers at New York New Jersey Stadium.

FIFA


The historic performance will feature Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Burna Boy, alongside acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus.

The show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen, is designed to merge entertainment with philanthropy, supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise more than $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children in more than 200 countries.

"The FIFA World Cup is the most unifying event on Earth," said Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans on the FIFA website, describing the halftime spectacle as "the first halftime moment in history focused on leaving a lasting legacy for children worldwide."

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Global Citizen (@glblctzn)

 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the event "a celebration of football, unity, and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle."

The entertainment programme will begin before kick-off with performances by Post Malone and Robbie Williams, while Jennifer Hudson is set to perform the US national anthem. Actor Tom Cruise is also expected to make a special appearance as part of the pre-match festivities.

Although music has long been part of World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, the 2026 final marks the first time FIFA has incorporated a Super Bowl-style halftime show into the tournament's showpiece match. In previous editions, the halftime interval was reserved solely for players, coaches, and match officials.

In announcing the show, Chris Martin said it would be "all about togetherness... and everyone's invited," while characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also set to appear, reinforcing the event's focus on children's education.

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