A historic first for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will feature something the tournament has never had before: a dedicated halftime show during the final.

Taking place on Sunday, 19 July 2026, the show will be staged at New York New Jersey Stadium, widely known as MetLife Stadium, during the World Cup Final. It marks a major shift for FIFA, bringing the kind of mid-game entertainment spectacle more commonly associated with the Super Bowl into the biggest football match on earth.

The performance is expected to be a short, high-impact broadcast moment designed for a global audience, combining music, sport and social purpose.

When and where is it happening?

The halftime show will take place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July 2026.

The final is being held at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the venue being used for the tournament under FIFA’s non-sponsored stadium naming rules.

The match is scheduled for the afternoon in the United States, which means the halftime show should land in UK prime time. Exact timing will depend on first-half stoppage time, but fans can expect the performance to begin roughly midway through the final, shortly after the opening 45 minutes.

Who is headlining the World Cup halftime show?

The confirmed co-headliners are:

• Justin Bieber
• Madonna
• Shakira
• BTS

That lineup gives FIFA a cross-generational and international mix: a Canadian pop superstar, one of the most influential performers in pop history, a World Cup anthem legend, and one of the biggest K-pop groups of all time.

Justin Bieber was the most recent major addition to the bill, joining the already announced trio of Madonna, Shakira and BTS.

Who else is performing?

Beyond the headline names, several additional performers have also been confirmed.

Burna Boy is set to appear, adding another major global star to the show. His inclusion is especially relevant because of his connection to the 2026 World Cup soundtrack through “Dai Dai,” his collaboration with Shakira.

The show will also feature Gustavo Dudamel, the acclaimed Venezuelan conductor and Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic.

Another notable addition is the PS22 Chorus, the well-known children’s choir from Staten Island, which will perform featuring Coldplay.

Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also expected to be part of the show, tying into the event’s education-focused theme.

Who is curating the show?

The halftime show is being curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.

That is a significant creative choice. Martin has long been associated with large-scale global music moments, charity-driven performances and stadium shows built around unity, colour and audience participation.

His role suggests the performance will not simply be a sequence of quick artist appearances. Instead, it is likely to be shaped as a tightly produced global entertainment moment with a strong message running through it.

Who is producing it?

The show is being produced by Global Citizen, in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted.

Global Citizen’s involvement is central to the concept. This is not being positioned purely as a pop concert inside a football match. It is also being used to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.

What is the purpose behind the show?

The halftime show is directly linked to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

The fund has a target of raising USD $100 million to support education and football-related opportunities for children worldwide. More than USD $50 million has already reportedly been raised.

A major part of the fundraising model is that USD $1 from every ticket sold for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches is being donated to support social projects connected to the initiative.

That gives the halftime show a clear charitable message: using the World Cup’s enormous audience to raise money, attention and momentum for children’s education.

How long will the halftime show be?

The show is expected to run for around 11 minutes.

That makes it much shorter than the Super Bowl halftime show, but still long enough to create a major global broadcast moment. With so many confirmed performers, the production will need to be extremely tightly choreographed.

Expect medleys, short artist segments and collaborative moments rather than full-length individual performances.

Will Coldplay perform?

Coldplay are connected to the show through two routes.

First, Chris Martin is curating the performance. Second, Coldplay are expected to feature alongside the PS22 Chorus.

That does not necessarily mean a full Coldplay set, but the band’s involvement suggests they will be part of at least one musical moment during the broadcast.

What songs could be performed?

No official setlist has been released yet.

However, there are some obvious possibilities. Shakira could perform “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy, given its connection to the 2026 World Cup soundtrack. She may also nod to her World Cup legacy with “Waka Waka,” although that has not been confirmed.

BTS could use the stage for one of their biggest global hits or a special arrangement designed for the event. Madonna’s segment may lean into one of her classic anthems, while Justin Bieber could bring one of his biggest pop hits to the global stage.

Because the show is only expected to last around 11 minutes, the final setlist will almost certainly be a fast-moving medley rather than a traditional concert format.

Why Shakira’s involvement matters

Shakira is arguably the most important World Cup music figure in the lineup.

Her 2010 anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” remains one of the most iconic World Cup songs ever released. She also has a long history with FIFA tournament performances, making her return feel like a deliberate bridge between World Cup music history and the new halftime show era.

Her presence gives the event credibility with football fans who already associate her music with the tournament.

Why BTS is a major moment

BTS bring a huge global fanbase and help position the halftime show as an international pop-culture event, not just a North American-style entertainment slot.

Their inclusion also reflects how much the World Cup has changed as a media product. FIFA is clearly aiming to reach not only traditional football audiences, but younger global audiences who follow music, streaming culture and social media-driven live events.

Why Madonna’s inclusion is significant

Madonna brings legacy, scale and spectacle.

She has already proven herself on one of the biggest sports-entertainment stages, having headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012. Her presence gives the World Cup show a sense of pop royalty and theatrical ambition.

In a lineup built around global reach, Madonna represents decades of international pop influence.

Why Justin Bieber’s addition changes the scale

Justin Bieber’s addition gives the show another contemporary superstar with massive reach across North America and beyond.

As the 2026 tournament is hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Bieber’s presence is especially fitting. He adds another North American anchor to a lineup that already spans Latin pop, K-pop, global pop and Afrobeats.

His announcement also gives the show renewed momentum close to the final.

Why some football fans are divided

The idea of a World Cup halftime show has not been universally welcomed.

For some fans, football’s appeal lies in its simplicity: two halves, a short break, and a focus on the match itself. A major halftime production can feel like an imported American sports tradition, especially during a tournament already hosted largely in North America.

Others see it as a natural evolution. The World Cup is already a global entertainment product, and the final is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. From that perspective, a carefully produced halftime show is simply FIFA leaning into the scale of the occasion.

How it compares with the Super Bowl halftime show

The comparison with the Super Bowl is unavoidable.

Like the Super Bowl halftime show, the World Cup Final performance is being built around superstar names, global broadcast reach and a compact, high-production musical format.

However, there are key differences. The World Cup show is expected to be shorter, more globally balanced in its lineup, and explicitly connected to a charitable education fund. It also has to fit into football’s stricter match rhythm, where extending halftime too much could prove controversial.

What still has not been confirmed

Several important details are still unknown.

The full setlist has not been announced. The exact running order of performers is also still under wraps. It is not yet clear how the Sesame Street and Muppets characters will be integrated into the show.

There may also be surprise guests, although none have been confirmed. Given the scale of the lineup already, FIFA may choose to keep the production focused rather than adding too many extra names.

How fans can watch

The halftime show will be broadcast as part of the World Cup Final coverage around the world.

Exact viewing options will depend on each country’s official broadcasters. In the UK, fans should follow the official World Cup broadcast schedule closer to the final for confirmed channel and streaming details.

There is also set to be a major watch-party experience in New York, with tens of thousands of fans expected to gather for a large-scale public screening of the final and halftime show.

Why this could be a turning point for World Cup entertainment

The 2026 World Cup halftime show could become a defining moment in how FIFA presents future finals.

If it works, it may become a permanent part of the World Cup Final experience. If fans feel it disrupts the rhythm of the match, FIFA may face pressure to rethink the format.

Either way, the 2026 show is a statement of intent. FIFA is no longer treating music as something that happens only before the match or at opening ceremonies. It is placing music directly inside the biggest game in football.

Final thoughts

The first-ever World Cup Final halftime show is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious entertainment moments in FIFA history.

With Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS leading the lineup, plus appearances from Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus, Coldplay, Sesame Street and The Muppets, the performance is clearly designed to reach far beyond traditional football audiences.

The challenge will be balance. FIFA has to deliver a global spectacle without making the final feel secondary to the show. If it gets that right, the 2026 halftime performance could become a landmark moment — not just for World Cup music, but for the future of live sports entertainment.