The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will not only be played on the field, but a massive music show will also be held in conjunction with it. FIFA has officially announced that the final battle of the upcoming tournament will host the first half time show. And on that stage will be Madonna, Shakira and the Korean band BTS.
The World Cup final will be held on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For the first time in history, there will be a full program during the break. The entire event is curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Gianni Infantino, president of the organization, announced the artists on social media: “The halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final will be a truly special moment. Halftime concerts have been the main attraction of American sporting events for many years. This year, the World Cup final will follow that model.
In 2012, Madonna performed her Super Bowl halftime show. Shakira has experience performing with Jennifer Lopez during which time they joined K-pop supergroup BTS.
According to FIFA, the event will be held in conjunction with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This project aims to increase children’s education and football opportunities. In the words of Gianni Infantino, ‘Music, football and the common goal of improving children’s lives – all come together on this stage.’
World Cup finals usually have a 15-minute break. However, it is anticipated that the addition of the halftime show may increase the time. However, FIFA has not yet announced how long the break will last.
The upcoming tournament will be the biggest World Cup in history. For the first time, 48 teams will play. The number of matches has been increased by the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting. The tournament will start in June and will end on July 19.
The model was previously tested at the FIFA Club World Cup final. Doja Kat, Jay Balvin and Thames perform during PSG’s game against Chelsea at MetLife Stadium. After that test, FIFA is facing a big test in the World Cup final.
