BTS, Madonnaand Shakira will play in his half FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Global Citizen announced the line-up, confirming a major first for the tournament: the FIFA World Cup final will feature a half-time show for the first time.
Global Citizen revealed the news through a social media video starring Coldplay‘small Chris Martin with Sesame Street characters Helm and Cookie monstertogether with Kermit, Miss Piggyand more from The Muppets. The video also brings BTS to the announcement via a FaceTime call, adding a playful twist to one of the biggest musical moments planned for the 2026 tournament.
The announcement follows earlier links between Shakira and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Colombian superstar has already entered the tournament “Dai Dai,” her official song for the 2026 World Cup with Burna Boy. The track gives Shakira her second official FIFA World Cup song, which follows “Waka, Waka (This Time for Africa)” recorded for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Shakira is also starting her 2026 dates Women No Longer Cry World Tour in June, with shows scheduled for July 14 in New Jersey and July 20 in New York around the finale at MetLife.
Madonna also enters July with a busy release schedule. The queen of pop will be released Confessions II on July 3rdpositioning the album as a follow-up to her 2005 record Confessions on a dance floor. So far he has released two songs from the project: “Bring Your Love” her duet with Sabrina Carpenterand “I feel so free.”
BTS returned to music earlier this year with ARIRANGtheir sixth studio album and their first project since the group went on hiatus while each member completed military service. The band kicked off their ARIRANG WORLD TOUR in Goyang, South Korea last month before hitting the United States on April 25. International dates continue until next March.
Global Citizen and Chris Martin will curate the halftime show to raise money linked to FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund. The initiative aims to raise $100 million to expand children’s access to education and soccer around the world. The fund has already raised more than $30 million, with $1 from every World Cup match ticket going to the cause throughout the tournament. Global Citizen and Martin also teamed up last year Club World Cup last halftime show, headlined by Doja Cat, J Balvinand Tems.
FIFA recently announced more music programming for the 2026 World Cup, with Katy Perry, Future, Silence, LISAand Anita set for the opening ceremony shows in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Perry will headline the Los Angeles Opening Ceremony before the US Men’s National Team takes on Paraguay on June 12, while Future will perform at SoFi Stadium with DJ Sanjoy.
