BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will perform during halftime of the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Global Citizen announced the lineup, confirming a major first for the tournament: the FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show for the first time.
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Global Citizen revealed the news through a social video starring Coldplay’s Chris Martin with Sesame Street characters Elmo and Cookie Monster, along with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and more from The Muppets. The video also brings BTS into the announcement through a FaceTime call, adding a playful rollout to one of the biggest music moments planned for the 2026 tournament.
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The announcement follows earlier links between Shakira and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which takes place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Colombian superstar already joined the tournament through “Dai Dai,” her official 2026 World Cup song with Burna Boy. The track gives Shakira her second official FIFA World Cup song, following “Waka, Waka (This Time for Africa),” recorded for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Shakira also begins the 2026 dates of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in June, with shows scheduled for July 14 in New Jersey and July 20 in New York around the final at MetLife. “I’ve spent my life doing two things – making songs and building schools. At the FIFA World Cup, those two paths come together,” said Shakira. She added that she will perform “Dai Dai,” the song she created for the tournament and for children reached through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Madonna also enters July with a packed release calendar. The Queen of Pop will release Confessions II on July 3, positioning the album as a sequel to her 2005 record Confessions on a Dance Floor. She has released two songs from the project so far: “Bring Your Love,” her duet with Sabrina Carpenter, and “I Feel So Free.” Speaking about the halftime show, Madonna said, “Performing at the FIFA World Cup final in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is deeply meaningful to me. Without education, children are denied opportunity before they even have a chance. Every child deserves access to quality learning – because education expands possibilities and creates lasting change.”
BTS returned to music earlier this year with ARIRANG, their first major project after completing military service. The group launched the ARIRANG WORLD TOUR in Goyang, South Korea, last month before bringing the tour to the United States on April 25. International dates continue through next March. “Music is the universal language of hope and harmony, and we’re honored to celebrate that power at the World Cup by connecting with millions of viewers around the world in support of children’s education,” said BTS.
Global Citizen and Chris Martin will curate the halftime show with a fundraising goal tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The initiative aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for children worldwide. The fund has already raised more than $30 million, with $1 from every World Cup match ticket directed to the cause throughout the tournament. Global Citizen and Martin also worked together on last year’s Club World Cup final halftime show, headlined by Doja Cat, J Balvin, and Tems.
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The halftime show is produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. The advisory board includes Hugh Jackman, The Weeknd, Ivanka Trump, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans, Serena Williams, Shakira, Kaká, and Bank of America co-president Jim DeMare. “The FIFA World Cup is the most unifying event on Earth. Together with FIFA and our curator Chris Martin of Coldplay, we wanted to create the first halftime moment in history focused on leaving a lasting legacy for children worldwide,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. “By bringing together the world’s greatest artists, football, and a shared commitment to education, we have an opportunity to turn a defining cultural moment into enormous impact through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. My hope is that in a decade from now, we will see millions of lives impacted, because of this historic moment.”
FIFA recently announced more music programming for the 2026 World Cup, with Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA, and Anitta set for opening ceremony performances across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Perry will headline the Los Angeles opening ceremony before the U.S. men’s national team faces Paraguay on June 12, while Future will perform at SoFi Stadium with DJ Sanjoy.
