FIFA broke new ground on Sunday by staging the first-ever halftime show in a FIFA World Cup final, turning football’s biggest match into a global music spectacle during the 2026 tournament finale between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium.
The approximately 12-minute performance, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen, formed part of an extended 27-minute halftime interval. Produced by Live Nation and Done + Dusted and directed by veteran live-event producer Hamish Hamilton, the show blended music, football and philanthropy on the sport’s biggest stage.
The halftime show was organised in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world. Before Sunday’s final, the initiative had raised more than $60 million through ticket contributions, corporate support and private donations, with FIFA announcing grants for 58 organisations expected to reach about 400,000 children worldwide.
Global music stars Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay headlined the performance, alongside Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy. They were joined by conductor Gustavo Dudamel, musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi, New York’s PS22 Chorus, Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, singer Emmanuel Kelly, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
Madonna opened the show with a dramatic entrance, arriving beneath the stadium in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before launching into her hit Music. Her performance transitioned into an orchestral rendition of Seven Nation Army, led by Dudamel.
The show also paid tribute to Brazilian football icon Pelé, with archival footage from his farewell appearance at the former Giants Stadium in New Jersey shown on the stadium’s giant screens.
BTS followed with a football-themed rendition of their global hit Dynamite, before actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, best known for the television series Ted Lasso, made a surprise appearance to introduce Justin Bieber. The Canadian singer then performed a World Cup version of Everything Hallelujah.
The energy rose again as Shakira and Burna Boy reunited to perform Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accompanied by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dancers. Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus closed the performance alongside characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, reinforcing the show’s message of unity, hope and equal opportunities for children.
The halftime spectacle was part of a wider entertainment programme surrounding the final. Before kick-off, Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, while Jennifer Hudson performed the United States national anthem. Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini also appeared, with actor Tom Cruise delivering a message celebrating football’s ability to unite people across the world.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final concluded the first 48-team edition of the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA’s introduction of a Super Bowl-style halftime show marked a significant departure from World Cup tradition. While many praised the star-studded production and its charitable mission, the extended halftime interval also sparked debate among football lovers over its impact on the flow of the game and players’ preparation for the second half.
AFP
The approximately 12-minute performance, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen, formed part of an extended 27-minute halftime interval. Produced by Live Nation and Done + Dusted and directed by veteran live-event producer Hamish Hamilton, the show blended music, football and philanthropy on the sport’s biggest stage.
The halftime show was organised in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world. Before Sunday’s final, the initiative had raised more than $60 million through ticket contributions, corporate support and private donations, with FIFA announcing grants for 58 organisations expected to reach about 400,000 children worldwide.
Global music stars Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay headlined the performance, alongside Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy. They were joined by conductor Gustavo Dudamel, musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi, New York’s PS22 Chorus, Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, singer Emmanuel Kelly, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
Madonna opened the show with a dramatic entrance, arriving beneath the stadium in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before launching into her hit Music. Her performance transitioned into an orchestral rendition of Seven Nation Army, led by Dudamel.
The show also paid tribute to Brazilian football icon Pelé, with archival footage from his farewell appearance at the former Giants Stadium in New Jersey shown on the stadium’s giant screens.
BTS followed with a football-themed rendition of their global hit Dynamite, before actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, best known for the television series Ted Lasso, made a surprise appearance to introduce Justin Bieber. The Canadian singer then performed a World Cup version of Everything Hallelujah.
The energy rose again as Shakira and Burna Boy reunited to perform Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accompanied by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dancers. Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus closed the performance alongside characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, reinforcing the show’s message of unity, hope and equal opportunities for children.
The halftime spectacle was part of a wider entertainment programme surrounding the final. Before kick-off, Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, while Jennifer Hudson performed the United States national anthem. Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini also appeared, with actor Tom Cruise delivering a message celebrating football’s ability to unite people across the world.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final concluded the first 48-team edition of the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA’s introduction of a Super Bowl-style halftime show marked a significant departure from World Cup tradition. While many praised the star-studded production and its charitable mission, the extended halftime interval also sparked debate among football lovers over its impact on the flow of the game and players’ preparation for the second half.
AFP
