Entertainment
FIFA and Global Citizen have revealed the lineup for the first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show, with BTS, Madonna, and Shakira set to headline the performance during the World Cup final on July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, the FIFA halftime show 2026 will mark the first time the football tournament introduces a major live music spectacle during its final match.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.
FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show lineup revealed
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show is being positioned as a large-scale entertainment segment attached to the tournament's championship match, a format traditionally associated with American sporting events rather than international football.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as artists whose music "transcends borders and generations," while also linking the event to the education-focused fundraising campaign.
The halftime show will be produced by Global Citizen alongside Live Nation and Done+ Dusted. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also expected to appear during the broadcast as part of the event's education messaging.
BTS, Madonna, and Shakira's Global Citizen ties ahead of FIFA 2026
Several of the artists announced for the FIFA 2026 halftime show have previously worked with Global Citizen through concerts and advocacy campaigns.
BTS first partnered with the organisation during the 2021 Global Citizen Live campaign, while Jungkook later performed at the 2023 Global Citizen Festival in New York. Shakira has appeared at multiple Global Citizen events since 2017, including the Hamburg festival and the 2020 "Global Goal: Unite for Our Future" campaign focused on equitable vaccine access during the pandemic.
Madonna has also supported Global Citizen initiatives, including awareness campaigns linked to humanitarian relief efforts. Chris Martin, meanwhile, has served as Global Citizen's international festival curator since 2015 and has been involved in several large-scale campaigns and concerts organised by the group.
FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund linked to World Cup final
Organisers said more than $30 million has already been raised for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The initiative focuses on expanding access to education and football opportunities for children globally.
FIFA and Global Citizen also said that $1 from every ticket sold for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will go toward social impact projects connected to the campaign.
The World Cup final and its halftime show are expected to be broadcast globally, with organisers presenting the event as a combination of sport, music, and philanthropy on one of football's biggest stages.
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