FIFA has unveiled its headliners for the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, tapping Madonna, Shakira and BTS to perform on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The global pop trio will take the field during the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada. As first reported by multiple outlets including Billboard and Rolling Stone, the event is curated by Global Citizen and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who made the announcement with help from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
Beyond the spectacle, the 11-minute halftime show is designed to raise funds and visibility for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to secure $100 million to expand access to education and soccer opportunities for children worldwide. Variety and others note that Shakira, a board member of the fund, will perform her new official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” (featuring Burna Boy), a song she created specifically for the tournament and its cause.
Tour Context and Opening-Ceremony Spectacles
The announcement caps a months-long rollout of music programming for the expanded 48-team World Cup, which Pollstar and Spin report will include Super Bowl-style opening ceremonies in each host country. Mexico kicks off the tournament on June 11 at Estadio Azteca with performances by MANÁ, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, and Lila Downs, among others. On June 12, Canada’s opener in Toronto will feature Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Alessia Cara, according to Consequence and Spin.
The same day, the United States men’s national team opens its campaign at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood with an opening ceremony featuring Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, Tyla, Rema and special guest LISA of BLACKPINK, per Spin and Pollstar. This follows last year’s Club World Cup halftime experiment at MetLife Stadium, co-headlined by Doja Cat, Tems and J Balvin.
Editorially, the lineup of Madonna, Shakira and BTS reads like a deliberate map of global pop’s gravitational centers. The BBC, via Clash, notes that Madonna will arrive fresh off the dancefloor-focused Confessions II, due July 3, while BTS performs amid their comeback from military hiatus. Shakira brings not only her 2026 anthem but the legacy of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” from the 2010 World Cup, ensuring the halftime show feels both current and steeped in tournament history.
The SoCal Connection
Although the final’s halftime show is in New Jersey, Southern California fans will get multiple run-up events from the same stars. Shakira plays Intuit Dome in Inglewood on June 13 and 14, then Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms on June 17, just a month before the final. BTS returns to SoFi Stadium for three nights on September 1–2 and 5, giving local fans a preview of the energy they’ll bring to the MetLife stage. MANÁ, who are part of the Mexico City opening ceremony, also have four SoCal dates at the end of May and early June, including nights at Acrisure Arena and Honda Center.
For locals, the World Cup’s music programming doubles as a summer-long concert festival, with Alejandro Fernández scheduled at YouTube Theater in September and Lila Downs set for Walt Disney Concert Hall in October. The June 12 opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium will be the first chance to see how FIFA’s Super Bowl-style approach plays in an LA stadium context, with Katy Perry and Future anchoring the program.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on July 19 to see whether the debut of a World Cup final halftime show can match the cultural impact of the Super Bowl’s mid-game concerts. With the combined reach of Madonna, Shakira and BTS, plus a clear philanthropic mission, the 11-minute set is positioned to draw one of the year’s largest global audiences and set a template for future World Cup finals.
Last updated May 15, 2026.
Sources: Spin, Pitchfork News, Consequence, Clash Magazine, Pollstar, NME, Rolling Stone, Variety Music, Billboard, KTLA Entertainment, Jambase, NPR Music
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