Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and BTS lead 2026 World Cup Final halftime show
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The 2026 World Cup Final will include FIFA's first-ever halftime show.
- Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS are among the main performers.
- The final will also feature a star-studded closing ceremony before kick-off.
Inspired by the spectacle of the Super Bowl, FIFA will stage an extended musical production featuring some of the biggest names in global entertainment as part of the tournament's showpiece event at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The move is designed to elevate the World Cup Final into an even larger global entertainment event. FIFA will hope to surpass the audience of the 2022 final in Qatar, which attracted an estimated 1.5 billion viewers worldwide.
Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the halftime show promises a blend of international music, celebrity appearances and large-scale live production rarely seen at football's biggest match.
Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and BTS headline first World Cup halftime show
The inaugural halftime show will be led by four internationally renowned artists: Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and K-pop phenomenon BTS.Shakira will once again play a central role at the World Cup after opening the tournament alongside Nigerian superstar Burna Boy in Mexico City on 11 June. The pair also recorded the tournament's official anthem, "Dai Dai."
The Colombian icon is no stranger to football's biggest stage. She famously performed "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official song of the 2010 World Cup, and later headlined the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Jennifer Lopez in 2020.
She will also share the stage with Uganda's Ghetto Kids, whose energetic performances earned worldwide attention following their appearance on America's Got Talent.
Madonna returns to another major sporting event after headlining the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012. The Queen of Pop recently released her fifteenth studio album and appeared at Coachella alongside Sabrina Carpenter earlier this year.
BTS, meanwhile, reunite on one of the world's biggest stages after completing mandatory military service in South Korea. The seven-member group recently returned from a three-year hiatus and released their latest album, Arirang, in March.
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The halftime show extends well beyond its four headline acts.Burna Boy is expected to make a guest appearance, accompanied by acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel and New York City's PS 22 Chorus.
Coldplay will also feature during the production, fittingly given Martin's role in curating the event.
Family favourites Sesame Street and The Muppets are also scheduled to appear, adding another layer of entertainment aimed at viewers of all ages.
Star-studded closing ceremony before kick-off
Entertainment begins long before the opening whistle.The pre-match closing ceremony will celebrate the journey of all 48 participating nations and feature an impressive cast of international celebrities.
Among those scheduled to perform or appear are:
- Laura Pausini
- Nicole Scherzinger
- Robbie Williams
- Tom Cruise
- IShowSpeed
Tom Cruise is widely expected to deliver another memorable live stunt following his headline-grabbing appearance during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
When will the halftime show begin?
The World Cup Final kicks off at 3:00pm ET (8:00pm BST) on Sunday 19 July.Halftime is expected to begin at approximately 3:45pm ET (8:45pm BST) and could last between 25 and 30 minutes.
That would significantly exceed the standard 15-minute halftime interval permitted under the Laws of the Game, making the final one of the few occasions where FIFA adapts its traditional match-day format to accommodate a major entertainment production.
World Cup Final venue
The final will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium, the temporary FIFA name for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Under FIFA's commercial regulations, host venues adopt neutral tournament branding throughout the World Cup, meaning the stadium's commercial name is not used during the competition.
Football meets global entertainment
The introduction of a halftime show represents one of the most ambitious changes in World Cup history.Long associated with American sporting culture, the concept has helped transform the Super Bowl into a worldwide entertainment phenomenon. By bringing that formula to football's biggest match, FIFA aims to create an event that extends beyond the sport itself and appeals to an even broader global audience.
Whether remembered for the football, the music or both, the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final promises to deliver one of the most ambitious spectacles the tournament has ever produced.
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