BTS, Madonna, and Shakira Will Share the Stage at the FIFA World Cup Final. It's the First Halftime Show in the Tournament's 96-Year History.
On July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will do something no World Cup final has done since the first tournament in 1930: stop for a halftime show. FIFA and Global Citizen confirmed in a joint announcement on May 14 that BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will co-headline the performance, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin. Sesame Street and Muppets characters will also appear, in keeping with the show's stated focus on children's education.
The announcement carries weight beyond the booking. This is the first World Cup final halftime show in the tournament's history - a structural change FIFA President Gianni Infantino first floated publicly in 2025 before confirming at a Dallas event earlier this year. The production is being handled by Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization, in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. Every dollar raised - including $1 per ticket from all 104 World Cup matches across the US, Canada, and Mexico - goes to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has already raised over $30 million toward its $100 million target for global children's education access.
The three headliners bring distinct currents to the same stage. Madonna's Confessions II is due July 3, two weeks before the final. Shakira is the show's most directly World Cup-connected act - she performed "Waka Waka" at the 2010 South Africa final ceremony and previously served on the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund board. For the July 19 performance, she is expected to perform "Dai Dai," the official song she created for the tournament and the fund. BTS are in the middle of the Arirang World Tour's North America leg, which runs through June before a brief gap ahead of the halftime show date.
Each act issued a statement at the announcement. BTS said: "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." Madonna's statement framed her participation around access and opportunity. Shakira called the convergence of music and the World Cup "where two of my greatest loves meet."
The K-pop presence at the 2026 tournament runs across both ends of the event. LISA performed "Goals" - her collaboration with Anitta and Rema - at the June 12 opening ceremony in Los Angeles. BTS close it out on July 19 in New Jersey. For BTS specifically, it is a return to FIFA stages: Jung Kook performed "Dreamers" at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar, the first time a Korean artist had performed at the event.
The World Cup final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. The halftime show is expected to run approximately 11 minutes.
