Madonna, Shakira and BTS to headline World Cup halftime
PUBLISHED May 14, 2026, 1:37 AM ET
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East Rutherford, New Jersey — Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, organizers announced this week. The announcement was publicized in a social media teaser featuring Coldplay frontman Chris Martin alongside Muppet characters and cameo appearances. Organizers said the roughly 11-minute production, curated by Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, will raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund; Global Citizen has cited a landmark fundraising target tied to broadened education and football access. Pre-tournament entertainment lineups were also confirmed for June 11–12, underscoring programming across the tournament schedule.
By Michael Grant | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 1994: United States last hosted the FIFA World Cup; tournament recorded highest attendance.
- 2025: FIFA experimented with halftime entertainment at the Club World Cup (Doja Cat, Tems, J Balvin).
- May 14, 2025: Global Citizen/Coldplay social teaser announced Madonna, Shakira and BTS for July 19 final.
- June 11–12, 2026: Pre-tournament entertainment scheduled at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
- July 19, 2026: Scheduled World Cup Final with first-ever halftime show at MetLife Stadium.
News Intelligence
- The World Cup halftime show is a first, bringing together top global artists. It's not just about soccer anymore. It's about entertainment, community, and supporting a good cause. If you're a fan of Madonna, Shakira, BTS, or football, mark July 19 on your calendar.
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Global Citizen will gain fundraising visibility, FIFA will expand entertainment offerings, and headline performers receive global exposure while associated charities and sponsors gain donation and promotional opportunities.
Smaller supporting artists and local performers may receive comparatively less global attention and media spotlight due to the concentration of publicity on the three headline acts.
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