BTS, Madonna and Shakira to headline first FIFA World Cup final halftime show
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals is set to make history with its first-ever halftime show featuring global superstars BTS, Madonna and Shakira. This event is to be held on July 19.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals is set to make entertainment history with its first-ever halftime show, and FIFA has confirmed a headline lineup featuring BTS, Madonna and Shakira.
The performance will take place during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, as FIFA expands the tournament’s entertainment format with a Super Bowl-style music showcase. The halftime show is being produced in partnership with Global Citizen and co-hosted by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
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The announcement brings together three acts with wide international reach across generations and markets. Madonna, one of pop music’s most influential artists, will share the stage with Shakira, whose connection with football culture remains strong through global hits such as Waka Waka and La La La.
For BTS, this appearance marks another major milestone in the group’s global expansion beyond music charts and stadium tours. The group’s relationship with FIFA previously attracted worldwide attention when member Jungkook performed Dreamers at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
BTS expressed their thoughts on the upcoming performance in a statement. He said, “It is a great honor to stand on such a meaningful stage where the entire world comes together. We believe that music is a universal language that conveys a message of hope and unity. To be able to share that message with a global audience through this World Cup and contribute to expanding educational opportunities for children makes it even more important.”
The halftime performance also comes during a major chapter for BTS, following the group’s reunion after completing military service commitments in South Korea. The group has already resumed large-scale concert and touring activities this year, making the FIFA stage one of its biggest international appearances since the restructuring.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to be one of the biggest editions of the tournament ever, commercially and culturally. The introduction of the halftime show signals FIFA’s increased focus on establishing the World Cup finals not just as a sporting event, but as a global entertainment spectacle.
The final will be held on 19 July 2026 at the MetLife Stadium.