For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup will include a halftime show during the grand final. The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will crown its champion on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — and the break between halves will be anything but quiet.
FIFA has confirmed that Colombian superstar Shakira will headline the show alongside pop icon Madonna and South Korean group BTS. The performance is curated by Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, and will extend beyond the usual 15-minute intermission to accommodate a large-scale production. The show also carries a philanthropic mission: funds raised will go to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to collect $100 million to improve access to education and children's sports worldwide. FIFA will donate $1 for every ticket sold across the tournament to support this cause.
Shakira's enduring football legacy
Shakira's involvement is no surprise. The Barranquilla-born artist has been synonymous with World Cup music since her 2010 anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), which became one of the best-selling World Cup songs of all time. For 2026, she returns with 'Dai Dai,' the tournament's official anthem, a track that blends her signature Colombian rhythms with a global pop sensibility. Her recent performance at the 2024 Copa América final in Miami already hinted at her continued dominance in stadium-sized events.
Beyond the halftime show, Shakira's presence at the World Cup final reinforces her status as the definitive musical figure of FIFA events. She joins a lineage of artists who have turned these performances into cultural milestones, but her connection to football runs deeper than most — from her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué to her multiple appearances at major tournaments.
A lineup that spans generations and genres
The combination of Shakira, Madonna and BTS represents a deliberate effort to bridge diverse audiences. Madonna, who has not performed at a World Cup event before, brings decades of pop and dance music influence. BTS, the K-pop phenomenon with a massive global following, adds a younger, digitally native fan base. Chris Martin's curation aims to create a cohesive show that highlights the tournament's theme of unity across cultures.
In a recent collaboration with Sesame Street, Martin emphasized that the halftime show is a unique opportunity to demonstrate solidarity between different cultures while supporting children's education worldwide. The Global Citizen partnership adds a layer of purpose to what could otherwise be a purely commercial spectacle.
Tournament expansion and opening ceremonies
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32, and will be spread across three host nations. The tournament kicks off on June 11 with simultaneous opening ceremonies in all three countries. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the new format as a representation "fitting for the greatest sporting event on the planet."
For Latino audiences, the inclusion of Shakira and the presence of matches in Mexico and the United States — home to millions of Mexican-Americans and other Latino communities — make this World Cup particularly resonant. The halftime show, with its mix of Latin pop, global superstars and a charitable mission, reflects the bicultural reality of many fans who navigate between English and Spanish, between their heritage and their present.
As Shakira continues to break records — including her recent record-breaking Copacabana show in Rio de Janeiro — her role in the 2026 World Cup final halftime show cements her place as a bridge between Latin America and the world. The show promises to be a defining moment not just for football, but for the cultural conversation around the sport.
