Madonna, BTS, and Shakira Set to Headline 2026 World Cup Final Halftime Show

Three music superstars are joining forces for a historic moment in sports entertainment. Madonna, BTS, and Shakira have been tapped to co-headline the halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final—marking the first time the tournament will feature a dedicated halftime performance.

The announcement dropped at midnight ET on Thursday, May 14, unveiled through a star-studded video featuring Coldplay frontman Chris Martin alongside beloved characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit, and Miss Piggy.

The high-profile performance will serve a charitable purpose, with proceeds directed toward the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative designed to expand educational opportunities and access to football for young people globally.

This headlining announcement follows FIFA's recent reveal of the opening ceremony lineup. Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA, and Anitta will take the stage when the tournament officially kicks off on June 11. The opening matches and subsequent games will be held across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—marking the first time the U.S. has hosted the World Cup since 1994.

The championship final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Stateside viewers will be able to catch the action on Fox in English, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo.

Adding another layer to her involvement with the tournament, Shakira has also been selected to perform and release the official song for the 2026 World Cup.