FIFA World Cup Final Announces First-Ever Halftime Show, Headlining Madonna, Shakira, and BTS

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is taking a page out of the NFL, as the tournament is set to feature its first-ever halftime entertainment show.

On Thursday, FIFA announced global music stars Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will co-headline the concert on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

According to FIFA executives, the decision was made in an effort to expand cultural reach and create a unifying live experience among soccer, music, and social impact.

“Madonna, Shakira, and BTS are global icons whose music transcends borders and generations, and we are proud to welcome them to the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.

Further, the performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative dedicated to education efforts and soccer for children across more than 200 nations. Through the World Cup, the project aims to raise over $100 million in donations.

“This historic show will also shine a light on a greater purpose by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our shared mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide,” Infantino continued.

“It will be a celebration of football, unity, and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle.”

Madonna, whose career spans across four decades of pop music, is expected to anchor the production with a theatrical opening segment.

“Performing at the World Cup final in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is deeply meaningful to me,” said Madonna in a statement. “Without education, children are denied opportunity before they even have a chance.

“Every child deserves access to a quality learning—because education expands possibilities and creates lasting change.”

Meanwhile, K-pop boy group BTS will draw in international viewership along with the younger demographic, as the best-selling artist in South Korean history.

“Music is the universal language of hope and harmony, and we’re honored to celebrate that power at the World Cup by connecting with millions of viewers around the world in support of children’s education,” added BTS.

Shakira, a board member of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, already holds close ties with World Cup history, after her 2010 anthem “Waka Waka” became one of the sport’s defining songs.

“I’ve spent my life doing two things—making songs and building schools,” she said. “At the FIFA World Cup, those two paths come together.”

“Standing alongside Madonna and BTS, I’ll be performing ‘Dai Dai,’ the song I created for this World Cup and for the kids around the world we will reach with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” Shakira continued. “My hope is that on the world’s biggest stage, the importance of investing in children’s education steals the show!”

The competition, which will run through the end of July, is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As of last week, FIFA sharply increased its ticket prices, with the best available now reaching more than $32,000.