BTS, Madonna and Shakira to headline FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show; Coldplay to curate historic event

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set to make history with its first-ever official halftime show, and the star-studded lineup already has fans across the globe buzzing.

Global music icons BTS, Madonna and Shakira have been confirmed as headliners for the landmark performance, which will take place during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

The show will be curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, marking FIFA’s biggest crossover yet between football and large-scale global pop entertainment.

FIFA adopts Super Bowl-style entertainment format

The halftime performance will be the first of its kind in FIFA World Cup history and is being modelled on the entertainment-heavy format popularised by the Super Bowl in the United States.

More from Entertainment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously revealed plans to introduce a musical halftime spectacle for the 2026 tournament final as part of efforts to make the event a larger global entertainment experience.

The final itself will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which was officially announced as the host venue earlier this year.

Chris Martin and Global Citizen to lead production

Apart from curating the lineup, Chris Martin is also expected to help shape the overall creative direction of the event alongside advocacy organisation Global Citizen.

Reports suggest the halftime show will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to improve access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.

One dollar from every ticket sold during the tournament is reportedly expected to go towards the initiative.

BTS’ participation sparks massive excitement online

Among all the announced performers, BTS’ inclusion has particularly generated huge excitement online, especially as fans continue waiting for the group’s complete reunion activities following military service commitments.

The announcement video shared by FIFA and Chris Martin even featured a playful virtual interaction with BTS members alongside characters from Sesame Street.

Social media platforms were quickly flooded with reactions from ARMY members celebrating the group’s return to one of the world’s biggest stages.

Shakira returns to football’s biggest stage

For Shakira, the 2026 FIFA World Cup marks another major football milestone in a career closely associated with the sport.

The singer previously delivered the iconic Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also headlined the 2024 Copa América final halftime show.

Several reports now suggest that Shakira may debut a new World Cup-themed track during the 2026 halftime performance.

Madonna adds pop royalty to the lineup

Madonna’s inclusion further elevates the scale of the event, with many already comparing the lineup to legendary Super Bowl halftime rosters.

The Queen of Pop is expected to bring one of the biggest live performances of her career to the football stage, adding another major global entertainment moment to FIFA’s evolving presentation style.

FIFA increasingly embracing music-led spectacles

FIFA has steadily moved towards integrating large-scale musical performances into its tournaments.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final already experimented with a halftime entertainment model featuring artists like Doja Cat, J Balvin and Tems.

The 2026 edition now appears set to take that concept to an entirely new level.

With football, pop music and global fandoms colliding on one stage, FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show may become one of the most watched entertainment events in television history.