The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina witnessed an unprecedented moment in football history as FIFA hosted the first-ever official Halftime Show during a World Cup final.
Pop icon Madonna kicked off the star-studded show with her hit single Music, joined on stage by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in a surprise appearance at New York New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
The star-studded lineup featured K-pop sensations BTS, Canadian singer Justin Bieber, and British rock band Coldplay, with Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin serving as the artistic director for the show.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel made an appearance alongside New York’s PS22 Chorus, accompanied by beloved characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street.
Shakira closed the spectacular performance alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy with Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 World Cup, which resonated across all 104 matches of the tournament.
The halftime interval lasted 27 minutes and 22 seconds—the longest in World Cup history—with the core musical showcase running for roughly 11 minutes, as outlined in FIFA’s pre-match schedule.
The stands were packed with A-list celebrities, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, and actress Anya Taylor-Joy alongside her musician husband Malcolm McRae.
Organized in partnership with Global Citizen, the historic Halftime Show was designed to support an educational fund aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to education and sports for children worldwide.
