For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup final will feature a star-studded halftime performance, headlined by Shakira, Madonna, and K-pop sensation BTS. The announcement was made by FIFA ahead of the July final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, marking a groundbreaking moment for the tournament.
Chris Martin of Coldplay will serve as the show’s curator, overseeing a production designed to combine music and football on a global stage. FIFA hopes the performance will emulate the cultural and commercial impact of the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime shows, which have featured legends like Michael Jackson, Prince, The Rolling Stones, and more recently, Bad Bunny.
For Shakira, this isn’t her first World Cup performance—she has performed at multiple opening and closing ceremonies—but she has never performed during a live halftime show for a match. Last week, she also announced a collaboration with Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy on “Dai Dai,” the official World Cup song. FIFA described the track as “a celebration of football, culture, and unity, blending the signature sounds and energy of Shakira and Burna Boy.” Profits from the single, already available on major streaming platforms, will benefit FIFA’s Global Citizenship Education Fund.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be historic in many ways: it will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, and 48 national teams will compete, expanding the tournament to an unprecedented scale. Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting both the match and its record-breaking halftime show.
