Madonna, BTS and Shakira to headline FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show
Synopsis
For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup Final will have a halftime show — and it is headlined by Madonna, BTS, and Shakira. Personally curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, the 19 July performance in New Jersey doubles as a fundraiser for FIFA's $100 million global education initiative, raising the stakes well beyond football.
Key Takeaways
Madonna , BTS , and Shakira will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show at the Final on 19 July in New Jersey .
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Elmo announced the lineup via a teaser trailer featuring Muppet characters.
Proceeds from the show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund , which aims to raise $100 million for children's education and football access worldwide.
Nora Fatehi will perform at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony on 12 June at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada .
The FIFA World Cup 2026 returns to the United States for the first time since 1994 , with festivities beginning 11 June .
Madonna, BTS, and Shakira are set to co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has confirmed. The announcement was made through a teaser trailer featuring Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Elmo, who revealed the lineup alongside Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, and other Muppet characters. The FIFA World Cup Final is scheduled for 19 July in New Jersey.
The Halftime Lineup
Martin personally selected the three co-headliners — a combination spanning pop royalty, K-pop, and Latin music. Madonna, widely regarded as the Queen of Pop, joins K-pop phenomenon BTS and multiple Grammy winner Shakira in what marks the most high-profile musical event in World Cup history. Notably, Martin had also curated the entertainment for the 2025 Club World Cup, selecting Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin for that occasion — signalling FIFA's growing ambition to rival the Super Bowl halftime show in scale and cultural reach.
Proceeds to Support Global Education
The teaser confirmed that proceeds from the halftime show will be donated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, described by FIFA as 'a landmark initiative working to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide.' The charitable dimension adds a layer of purpose to what is already a commercially massive production.
Opening Ceremony: Canada's Moment
Separate from the halftime show, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony is set for 12 June at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. Bollywood performer Nora Fatehi will perform and sing at the ceremony, joining a lineup that includes Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince. According to FIFA, the ceremony will open with a symbolic journey across Canada, reflecting the country from coast to coast.
A Historic Return to the United States
The FIFA World Cup 2026 marks the tournament's return to the United States for the first time since 1994, which remains the most attended World Cup in history. Festivities for the 2026 edition kick off on 11 June, with the final scheduled for 19 July in New Jersey. The scale of entertainment programming — from the opening ceremony to the halftime show — signals FIFA's intent to position this edition as a cultural landmark beyond football.
Point of View
Centralised creative strategy. The charitable wrapper via the Global Citizen Education Fund is smart optics, but the real question is whether a $100 million fundraising target is realistic when the actual disbursement mechanism remains undetailed. Meanwhile, Nora Fatehi's inclusion in the Opening Ceremony lineup is a meaningful signal of FIFA's intent to court South Asian audiences — a commercially underexploited but enormous market for the 2026 edition.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is performing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show?
Madonna, BTS, and Shakira will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show at the Final on 19 July in New Jersey. The lineup was revealed by Coldplay's Chris Martin and Elmo in an official FIFA teaser trailer.
When and where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final takes place on 19 July in New Jersey, United States. The overall tournament kicks off on 11 June 2026.
What is the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund?
It is an initiative described by FIFA as working to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. Proceeds from the World Cup halftime show will be donated to this fund.
Who is performing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony on 12 June at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, features Nora Fatehi, Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince.
Is this the first time FIFA has had a World Cup halftime show?
Yes, this is the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup Final. FIFA had previously experimented with halftime entertainment at the 2025 Club World Cup, where Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin performed — also selected by Chris Martin.
