World football governing body FIFA has confirmed that global music stars Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final.
The historic entertainment spectacle is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium during the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA announced on Thursday that Chris Martin will curate the Super Bowl-style performance, marking a major shift in how the World Cup final is presented. The decision, however, has sparked questions over whether the traditional 15-minute half-time interval will be extended.
The 2026 World Cup — the largest in the tournament’s history featuring 48 nations — begins on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had earlier revealed plans for the inaugural World Cup final half-time concert, describing it as “a historic moment” worthy of the world’s biggest sporting event.
The initiative follows similar entertainment shows introduced at recent football events, including the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Shakira performed at half-time, and the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where the break exceeded the standard duration.
Infantino also disclosed plans for FIFA to stage fan events in New York City’s iconic Times Square during the World Cup final weekend.
According to FIFA, the half-time show will support the Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the tournament.
Meanwhile, Shakira recently teased a new official World Cup song titled “Dai Dai,” produced alongside Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy. The singer shared a promotional video filmed at Maracanã Stadium, featuring dancers in the colors of several participating nations.
Shakira, widely associated with FIFA World Cup music culture, previously performed at the 2006 and 2014 World Cup finals and recorded the iconic 2010 anthem “Waka Waka.”
