Madonna, Shakira, and BTS Set to Perform at the 2026 World Cup Final Halftime Show
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Global Citizen announced on Thursday, May 14, that pop icons Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will perform during the halftime show of the World Cup final.
This highly anticipated match will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the inaugural halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final. Reports indicate that the performance will last 11 minutes.
The announcement was made in a social media video featuring Coldplay’s Chris Martin alongside characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit, and Miss Piggy. The whimsical video even features a FaceTime call to BTS.
Shakira, a familiar face at the World Cup, has also been linked to the event through her official song for the upcoming tournament, titled “Dai Dai,” featuring Burna Boy. This marks her second official World Cup song, following “Waka, Waka (This Time for Africa)” from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour is set to begin in June, with performances scheduled in New Jersey and New York surrounding the World Cup final.
Madonna is preparing for an eventful July as well, with the release of her Confessions II album, a sequel to her 2005 hit, Confessions on a Dance Floor, on July 3. She has already released the lead single, “Bring Your Love,” a duet with Sabrina Carpenter, which debuted live during Coachella last month.
BTS made a significant return to the music scene with the release of their sixth studio album, ARIRANG, on March 20. This marked their first project since the members began their military service. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and maintained that position for three consecutive weeks. Last month, BTS kicked off their ARIRANG WORLD TOUR in Goyang, South Korea, with plans to perform in the U.S. starting April 25.
The halftime show for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is curated by Global Citizen and Chris Martin, with a mission to raise funds for children’s education. The organization and Martin previously collaborated for last year’s Club World Cup final, which featured performances by Doja Cat, J Balvin, and Tems.
In addition, FIFA recently announced that Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA, and Anitta will perform during the opening ceremonies of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Perry will headline the ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of the U.S. men’s national team’s first match against Paraguay on June 12.
This will be the first World Cup final to feature a halftime show, with both Shakira and Madonna having previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show—Madonna in 2012 and Shakira alongside Jennifer Lopez in 2020.
