Artists Shakira, Madonna and BTS will “headline the first halftime show at a World Cup final” in a “meshing of Latin, pop and Korean music that reflects the global community of soccer fans.” The World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, is “already a quadrennial spectacle” that in 2022 drew more than 500 million live viewers. But the introduction of a musical performance “could attract even more casual spectators.” The artists for the halftime show “were selected by Chris Martin," the lead singer of Coldplay, who “shared the lineup in a video on social media that featured characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/14).
The halftime show will also “raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, improving access to quality education and football for children around the world” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/13). Global Citizen will “produce the halftime show, with assistance from Martin.” Martin “also assisted Global Citizen with the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show,” which also took place at MetLife Stadium, in 2025 (USA TODAY, 5/14). There will also be three opening ceremonies across the host countries of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with a number of artists set to perform at each site (London TELEGRAPH, 5/14).
