Madonna, Shakira and K-pop group BTS are set to headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, FIFA announced on Thursday.
The show will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and will be curated by Chris Martin.
It will mark the first time a half-time entertainment show is staged during a World Cup final, a move that has raised questions over how the performance could affect the traditional 15-minute interval.
The expanded 48-team World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino first announced plans for a half-time show in 2024, describing it as a historic addition to football’s biggest event, though details of performers and timing were initially withheld.
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” he said at the time.
The format mirrors recent innovations seen at major tournaments, including the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Shakira performed during half-time, and the FIFA Club World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium last year, which extended the break beyond the standard duration.
Infantino also confirmed plans to “take over” New York’s Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament as part of wider fan engagement activities.
The half-time show will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the tournament.
Shakira recently teased the official World Cup song, sharing a clip filmed at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracanã Stadium. The track, titled “Dai Dai,” was produced in collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is expected to be officially released on Thursday.
In the teaser, Shakira appears with the official “Trionda” match ball, performing alongside dancers dressed in team colours, including those of the United States and Colombia.
The Colombian star has a long association with the World Cup, having performed at the 2006 and 2014 finals and recording the iconic 2010 anthem “Waka Waka.”
