World Cup final to feature star-studded first halftime show

The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured the first-ever halftime show in tournament history, an 11-minute spectacle headlined by Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Coldplay, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The show aimed to raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, targeting $100 million for children's education and soccer access Source: NPR.

What happened

Madonna opened with "Music" driven by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, followed by conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading an orchestra through "Seven Nation Army" Source: CNA. BTS performed a football-themed version of "Dynamite," Jason Sudeikis introduced Justin Bieber, and Shakira joined Burna Boy for the tournament anthem "Dai Dai" Source: SCMP. The Muppets and Sesame Street characters appeared alongside Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus to close the show Source: AP News.

The reaction

The extended halftime break—reportedly lasting 27 minutes—drew criticism for potentially affecting player performance and violating IFAB's 15-minute guideline Source: BBC. Some fans viewed the Super Bowl-style show as an "Americanization" of the sport, while others welcomed the global entertainment Source: WIRED. The Cure's Robert Smith publicly lambasted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling the show "bread and circuses" Source: Euronews.

What's next

Despite the controversy, FIFA has signaled that halftime shows may become a regular feature, with the concept already tested at the Club World Cup final Source: Al Jazeera. The show raised funds for education, with FIFA donating $1 per ticket sold Source: NPR.