Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline 2026 halftime

FIFA and Global Citizen said on May 14 that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the 2026 World Cup final halftime show, adding three global pop acts to what organizers described as the first such performance in the tournament’s history. The show is scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, the venue FIFA uses for the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Billboard first reported the lineup on Thursday, citing the announcement by FIFA and Global Citizen. Chris Martin of Coldplay will curate the performance, according to FIFA and Global Citizen. ### Which match is getting the halftime show? The July 19, 2026 World Cup final is the event FIFA and Global Citizen attached to the announcement. FIFA’s release said the halftime show will take place during the final at New York New Jersey Stadium and will be broadcast live worldwide. Billboard reported the match will be played on a Sunday and said the performance is expected to run 11 minutes. (fifa.com) The 2026 tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but FIFA’s announcement tied this specific show to the final in the New York-New Jersey area. Global Citizen said it will produce the halftime show as part of its partnership with FIFA. That partnership, announced earlier, also includes programming in Times Square during the final weekend. (fifa.com) ### Why are Madonna, Shakira and BTS notable picks? Shakira brings direct World Cup history to the lineup. Billboard reported last week that she was tapped for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” with Burna Boy. Billboard has also previously listed her 2010 hit “Waka Waka” among the tournament’s official songs and anthems over the years. (fifa.com) BTS adds one of the biggest names in global pop, and Madonna adds a performer whose catalog spans decades. FIFA and Global Citizen named all three acts together in their May 14 release and described the event as a “historic” final halftime show. FIFA’s website and Global Citizen’s event page both present the trio as co-headliners rather than separate featured appearances. (billboard.com) ### What else did FIFA and Global Citizen say will be part of the show? Global Citizen’s event page said the halftime show will also feature the Muppets from Sesame Street. FIFA’s main release highlighted Chris Martin’s role as curator and said the performance would be seen by millions of viewers around the world. Neither FIFA nor Global Citizen, in the materials reviewed, published a set list or said how the performance time would be divided among the acts. (fifa.com) The FIFA and Global Citizen materials also linked the event to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. FIFA’s Spanish-language coverage said the fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children, and that more than $30 million had been raised so far. It also said $1 from every ticket sold for the 2026 World Cup would be donated to support projects worldwide. (fifa.com) ### Is this FIFA’s first halftime show experiment? Global Citizen and FIFA have already staged a halftime show at another FIFA event. A July 2025 Global Citizen release said J Balvin, Doja Cat and Tems headlined the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, with a surprise Coldplay performance featuring Emmanuel Kelly. That event was also tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. (fifa.com) The World Cup final, however, is a different milestone. FIFA and Global Citizen both said the July 19, 2026 performance will be the first halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history. Billboard repeated that description in its report on the announcement. (globalcitizen.org) ### What comes next before July 19? FIFA’s next major public steps are expected to center on final-weekend programming, ticketing and broadcast details for the 2026 tournament. Global Citizen has already published a dedicated event page for the halftime show and said fans can follow updates there. FIFA has also posted the announcement on its World Cup 2026 pages and blog, where further production and match-week details are likely to appear ahead of the July 19 final in New Jersey. (fifa.com) (globalcitizen.org)