Madonna & Shakira To Headline Historic First-Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to make history with its first-ever halftime show during the final, with global music superstars Madonna and Shakira set to lead a star-studded lineup for the landmark spectacle.

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The fast-approaching 2026 FIFA World Cup is preparing to deliver a major entertainment spectacle, with the tournament set to introduce its first-ever halftime show during the Final — and the lineup is already of an iconic nature.

According to posts shared across FIFA World Cup social media platforms, international music icons Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop supergroup BTS are expected to headline the historic performance.

The halftime showcase, reportedly curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, is said to run for approximately 11 minutes and promises to blend music, culture, and global unity on football’s biggest stage.

Produced in partnership with Global Citizen, the show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund — an initiative aiming to raise USD 100 million to improve access to education for children around the world.

The world's biggest stage. An even bigger purpose. On July 19, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show is coming to New York New Jersey Stadium, featuring superstars @Madonna , @shakira , and @bts_bighit , curated by @coldplay ‘s Chris Martin!

A FIFA World Cup first, the… pic.twitter.com/OblQmXTW1M

For Shakira, the performance marks yet another chapter in her long-standing relationship with major sporting events. The Colombian superstar famously appeared alongside Jennifer Lopez during the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show and remains one of the most recognisable musical figures associated with the FIFA World Cup.

She is also set to release the official 2026 World Cup anthem, "Dai Dai," featuring Nigerian Grammy-winning star Burna Boy. The release follows her iconic 2010 World Cup hit, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," which became synonymous with the tournament hosted in South Africa.

The star-studded halftime lineup was personally selected by Chris Martin, who revealed the performers in a playful social media video featuring beloved characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.

"It's a chance to show how amazing all different kinds of humans are," Martin explained to Elmo in the clip.

FIFA and Global Citizen reportedly tested the halftime concept during last summer's FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. That performance featured appearances by Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin, who performed from a specially designed stage built into the stadium stands.

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