The World Cup final on July 19 in New Jersey will include the first-ever Superbowl-inspired “halftime show,” featuring performances from American veteran Madonna, 2010 and now 2026 World Cup star Shakira and South Korean boy band BTS.
The curator is Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who announced the lineup Thursday in a promotional video featuring characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
What did FIFA say about the event?
FIFA says the goal of the event is to raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. A promotional poster seen in the video reads the motto: “The world’s biggest stage, an even bigger purpose.”
fifa president gianni infantino also shared news of the lineup for the event, which they first announced would take place online this March.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final halftime show will be a truly special moment, bringing together music, football and a shared commitment to improving the lives of children around the world,” Infantino wrote.
When asked at one point during the promotional video whether the show would include “surprises” in addition to the three main acts, Coldplay singer Chris Martin answered in the affirmative.
The video features various characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Animal on Drums.
Are there halftime shows in football?
The duration of the show has not been confirmed but according to some reports it may last for around 11 minutes. This can lead to either a long lag, or little or no opportunity for broadcasters to recap the action or broadcast commercials.
Typically, the halftime break in a football match lasts only around 15 minutes. The time is used in conjunction with commercial breaks and analysis of action if necessary or desired.
For example, the Champions League Final features a pre-match concert instead of a brief break between the two halves to discuss sporting issues.
Halftime shows or songs are rare. Famously, German pop star Helene Fischer performed at half-time at the 2017 German Cup (dfb cup) the final, audible whistles and cheers from supporters in real time in Berlin, and weeks of criticism that followed. Later this practice was abandoned.
However, FIFA is striking an optimistic note, prematurely describing the event as “a unique moment at the intersection of sport, culture and purpose, broadcast live around the world”.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery