Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop supergroup BTS will co-headline the first-ever halftime show at the FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to improve access to education and football for children worldwide. Coldplay’s Chris Martin will curate the show, which follows a viral announcement featuring Sesame Street characters.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, marking the largest tournament in history. The halftime show will be a historic addition, as previous World Cup finals did not include such performances. Madonna and Shakira have prior Super Bowl halftime experience, while BTS is the first K-pop act to headline a major global sports event.
The announcement has drawn significant attention, including a 7.2% surge in shares for Hybe, BTS’s management company, following the news. The group’s recent album, Arirang, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, further cementing their global influence. Shakira, meanwhile, released the official World Cup song Dai Dai with Burna Boy, while Madonna is set to release her 15th studio album, Confessions II, in July.
The halftime show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphasizing its role in uniting music, football, and social impact. The event will be broadcast globally, following the success of previous World Cup and Super Bowl halftime shows.