FIFA has confirmed that global music stars Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop group BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style halftime performance during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
The tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will conclude with the final in New Jersey, where organisers are planning a large-scale entertainment spectacle designed to combine football, music, and humanitarian outreach on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
According to FIFA, the halftime performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative focused on raising 100 million dollars to improve access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.
FIFA said more than 30 million dollars has already been raised for the programme, adding that one dollar from every World Cup match ticket sold will be directed toward social impact projects globally.
Reports surrounding the event have suggested the halftime show could run longer than the traditional 15-minute break permitted under the laws of the game, although FIFA has yet to officially address whether the interval will be extended for the performance.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the planned show as a landmark moment for the tournament, saying it would bring together entertainment and social impact in an unprecedented way.
He said Madonna, Shakira, and BTS are artists whose influence cuts across borders and generations, adding that the event would also draw global attention to efforts aimed at expanding educational opportunities for children worldwide.
Popular children’s television characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also expected to appear during the halftime performance as part of efforts to promote learning, child development, and global inclusion.
Madonna described the opportunity to perform at the World Cup final as deeply meaningful, while Shakira announced that she would perform “Dai Dai,” a song specially created for the tournament and the education initiative connected to it.
BTS, in its reaction, described music as a universal language capable of inspiring hope and harmony and said the group was honoured to participate in a global event tied to children’s education and development.
