FIFA made history on Sunday by staging the first-ever official halftime show at a FIFA World Cup Final, transforming football’s biggest match into a global entertainment spectacle.
The groundbreaking production took place during halftime of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking a major departure from the tournament’s traditional format.
Inspired by the Super Bowl halftime show, the 11-minute performance was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen. Produced by Live Nation and Done + Dusted, with acclaimed live-event director Hamish Hamilton at the helm, the show was staged during an extended halftime interval.
Beyond entertainment, the performance supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative seeking to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children around the world. Organisers said all participating artistes volunteered their performances in support of the campaign.
The star-studded lineup featured global music icons Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber, alongside Nigerian Grammy Award-winning singer Burna Boy. Also taking part were renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, the PS22 Chorus, Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, singer Emmanuel Kelly, and beloved characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
One of the night’s standout moments came when Shakira and Burna Boy reunited to perform Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following their appearance together at the tournament’s opening ceremony.
BTS electrified the crowd with their global hit Dynamite, while Justin Bieber delivered an emotional solo performance. Madonna closed with a high-energy set that became one of the defining moments of the show, complemented by orchestral performances, choral arrangements, elaborate choreography and family-friendly appearances that reinforced the event’s themes of unity, hope and global inclusion.
Designed as a fast-paced “mega-mix,” the production featured seamless stage transitions, cutting-edge visuals and carefully choreographed performances on a specially protected playing surface to preserve the pitch.
The halftime spectacle capped a day of entertainment surrounding the World Cup final. Before kick-off, FIFA staged a star-studded closing ceremony featuring performances by Post Malone, Swae Lee, Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini, alongside appearances by internet personality IShowSpeed and actor Tom Cruise.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final also brought the curtain down on the tournament’s first-ever 48-team edition, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
By introducing a halftime show for the first time in World Cup history, FIFA signalled a bold new direction for its flagship tournament, blending elite football with large-scale live entertainment while promoting a global education initiative. The move sparked widespread debate among fans, with many applauding the spectacle’s international appeal and star power, while others questioned its break from long-standing World Cup tradition.
