Madonna, BTS, Bieber and More Light Up the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show
Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy were among the artists who performed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on July 19. The 11-minute production took place during the final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium and brought music stars from several genres onto the same stage.
The lineup also included Chris Martin of Coldplay, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus. The Muppets, Sesame Street characters and several surprise guests also appeared throughout the show.
Note: Performer details and event information are based on official announcements and post-show reports available.
Inside the Star-Studded Performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show
Who Performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show?
Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber were the main co-headliners announced by FIFA. Burna Boy also performed, while Chris Martin helped curate the production before joining the finale.
The halftime lineup included:
- Madonna, with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
- Gustavo Dudamel, with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, plus The Muppets
- BTS
- Justin Bieber, introduced by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt
- Shakira and Burna Boy
- Chris Martin of Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus, joined by The Muppets and Sesame Street characters
- Ghetto Kids
- Emmanuel Kelly
Football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho also appeared during Madonna’s section, while Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt appeared as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard before Bieber’s performance.
Madonna Opened With “Music”
Madonna helped kick off the halftime show with her 2000 hit “Music.”
The singer emerged from the stadium tunnel alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, adding a football connection to the start of the music production.
With several artists sharing only 11 minutes of performance time, the show moved quickly from one section to the next.
Gustavo Dudamel and The Muppets Played “Seven Nation Army”
The show then moved into an orchestral version of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” a song often heard inside football stadiums.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel led the segment, while The Muppets’ Electric Mayhem joined the performance. Musicians connected to the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra were also part of the halftime lineup.
It was one of the more unexpected combinations of the show, mixing an orchestra with familiar Muppets characters before the next major artist arrived.
BTS Brought “Dynamite” to the Field
BTS followed with a performance of “Dynamite.”
All seven members of the K-pop group appeared during the show. FIFA had first announced BTS as a co-headliner alongside Madonna and Shakira in May, months before the World Cup final.
Their appearance also brought one of K-pop’s biggest groups into a halftime production watched by football fans around the world.
Justin Bieber Slowed Things Down
Justin Bieber changed the pace with an acoustic version of “Everything Hallelujah,” which included World Cup-inspired lyrics.
Before Bieber started singing, Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt appeared as their characters from “Ted Lasso.”
“Go out there, don’t be nervous, nobody’s watching,” Sudeikis told Bieber during the segment.
The Canadian singer had joined the lineup later than the other main headliners. FIFA announced on July 8 that Bieber would perform alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
Shakira and Burna Boy Performed “Dai Dai”
Shakira and Burna Boy followed with “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The appearance continued Shakira’s long connection with World Cup music. Her past tournament songs include “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” released for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Shakira and Burna Boy had also appeared during the opening ceremony earlier in the tournament before returning for the final on July 19.
Chris Martin and the PS22 Chorus Joined the Finale
The closing section brought several parts of the show together.
Chris Martin joined the PS22 Chorus, a live band, The Muppets and Sesame Street characters for the original song “We Dance.” Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy were among the characters who appeared during the finale.
Martin also worked behind the scenes as curator of the halftime production. FIFA first announced his involvement when the show was revealed in May.
How Long Was the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show?
The musical performances lasted about 11 minutes, according to reports.
The full halftime interval was much longer.
Reports said the break lasted around 27 minutes once the time needed to set up and remove equipment was included. The extended pause became part of the conversation around the event because football traditionally uses a shorter halftime break.
The format was also compared to the large halftime productions seen during the Super Bowl. Reports also noted that this was the first dedicated musical halftime production held during a FIFA World Cup final.
For viewers, that meant seeing a very different type of halftime than previous World Cup finals.
For viewers, that meant seeing a very different type of halftime than previous World Cup finals.
The Show Also Supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
The halftime show was produced by Global Citizen and supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The initiative helps community organizations working to improve access to education and sports for children in underserved communities.
As of July 16, 2026, Global Citizen reported that the fund had reached $60 million in commitments. A total of 58 organizations had received support, with programs expected to benefit more than 400,000 children around the world.
FIFA also previously announced that $1 from every ticket sold for 2026 World Cup matches would go toward supporting social projects connected to the initiative.
With Madonna opening the production, BTS performing “Dynamite,” Bieber switching to an acoustic sound and Shakira joining Burna Boy for “Dai Dai,” the halftime show covered a lot of ground in just 11 minutes.
Chris Martin and the PS22 Chorus then helped bring the performers and guests together for the finale, closing a halftime production that gave the World Cup final a new entertainment element alongside the football.
What did you think of the 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show? Which artist’s performance stood out to you the most? Share your pick in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira were the main co-headliners. Burna Boy, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus also took part, along with several guest performers.
The lineup included Madonna’s “Music,” an orchestral version of “Seven Nation Army,” BTS’ “Dynamite,” Justin Bieber’s “Everything Hallelujah,” Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai,” and “We Dance” during the finale.
The musical performances lasted about 11 minutes. Reports said the full halftime interval lasted around 27 minutes once setup and equipment removal were included.
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