2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show
First FIFA World Cup final halftime show, co-headlined by global music stars.
FIFA and Global Citizen · via Wikipedia: 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show · Public domain
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show, the first in the tournament’s history, took place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City. Directed by Hamish Hamilton, the performance was co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber, with additional guest appearances. FIFA and Global Citizen produced the event, which aimed to raise $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a program focused on ending extreme poverty and expanding children’s access to sports. The show drew criticism over concerns about the commercialization and Americanization of soccer, with specific objections that it violated the International Football Association Board’s 15-minute halftime interval rule.
The idea for a World Cup halftime show gained traction after Greg O’Keeffe of *The Athletic* questioned in February 2024 whether a Super Bowl-style performance would suit tournaments like the FIFA World Cup or UEFA Champions League. Marketing consultant Tim Crow, who works with FIFA and UEFA sponsors, hinted that both organizations had pushed to extend halftime for such opportunities. In 2024, Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans proposed the concept to FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, viewing it as a chance to learn and launch the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The show was announced in June 2025, marking the World Cup’s first halftime show, produced in partnership with Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Evans and Martin also discussed the idea with producers Hamish Hamilton and Ben Winston.
On September 28, 2024, FIFA and Global Citizen revealed a four-year agreement to combat extreme poverty and improve children’s access to sports and education. They simultaneously announced the co-production of the first World Cup final halftime show for the 2026 event at MetLife Stadium. On March 5, 2025, FIFA confirmed that Coldplay would help select performers. Infantino called it “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show worthy of the world’s greatest sporting events,” while Evans described it as “a world first, a ground-breaking moment where sport, music and culture merge.”
On May 13, 2026, the lineup was announced: Madonna, Shakira, and BTS would headline, joined by the Muppets and Sesame Street characters.
- Date
- July 19, 2026
- Location
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Duration
- 27 minutes and 22 seconds
- Headliners
- Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber
- Director
- Hamish Hamilton
- Producers
- FIFA, Global Citizen, Live Nation Entertainment, Done+Dusted
- Fundraising goal
- 100 million dollars for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
Lore & Background
The show was announced in June 2025, becoming the World Cup's first ever halftime show, produced in cooperation with Global Citizen and Global Citizen Festival curator Chris Martin of Coldplay. The idea originated from a 2024 suggestion by Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, following an earlier article questioning if a similar performance would be ideal for soccer tournaments. The lineup was unveiled on May 13, 2026, at the Global Citizen NOW Summit in New York City, attended by Infantino, Evans, footballer Kaká and Shakira. Madonna, Shakira and BTS donated their time without performance fees.
Reader's Guide
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show represented a historic shift for the sport, introducing a Super Bowl-style entertainment segment to the world's most-watched sporting event. Its significance lies in its dual purpose: entertainment and fundraising for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. However, the show came under scrutiny amid concerns relating to the commercialization and Americanization of the sport, with specific criticism directed at its breach of the International Football Association Board's 15-minute interval rule. The halftime ultimately lasted 27 minutes and 22 seconds, exceeding both the regulation and FIFA's targeted 18-minute plan. The show featured a diverse array of performers from multiple countries, including the Muppets and Sesame Street characters, and was directed by Hamish Hamilton, who had directed every Super Bowl halftime show since 2010. Its legacy is tied to the ongoing debate about balancing tradition with innovation in global soccer.
Did You Know?
- The show was the first ever halftime show for the FIFA World Cup.
- Madonna, Shakira and BTS did not receive performance fees, donating their time to the social justice organization Global Citizen.
- The show aimed to raise 100 million dollars for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
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