Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a landmark moment for both football and global music, FIFA and Global Citizen have announced that the 2026 World Cup final will feature its first-ever halftime show, bringing together some of the world's biggest music stars for an 11-minute spectacle at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The star-studded lineup includes Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, co-headliners Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop phenomenon BTS, alongside Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.
The show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, marks the first time a halftime performance will take centre stage during a World Cup final, with FIFA aiming to replicate the broad cultural success of the Super Bowl. More than a billion people viewed at least a part of the 2022 final, and this year's spectacle is expected to draw a similarly massive global audience.
Burna Boy's inclusion is particularly significant. The Grammy-winning artist, whose global smash hit 'Dai Dai' with Shakira continues to dominate charts worldwide, will represent Africa on one of the world's biggest stages. "The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together. To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don't take lightly," Burna Boy said in a statement.
His performance comes on the back of 'Dai Dai', the official song of the 2026 World Cup, which he co-wrote with Shakira. The track is a mesh of Afrobeats and Latin rhythms, an undeniably global, multilingual pop track that has become a fixture at matches since the tournament launched on June 11.
The halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide. Over $50 million has already been raised, with $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches being donated to the Fund.
Justin Bieber, who joins as a co-headliner alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS, expressed his excitement about the project. "The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I'm grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it's already helping expand access to education for children around the world," Bieber said.
The show will also feature Gustavo Dudamel, the internationally acclaimed Venezuelan conductor and Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, and the Webby Award-winning PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay. Sesame Street muppets, including Kermit and Miss Piggy, will also make appearances.
The inclusion of a halftime show represents a significant departure from tradition. While events like the Champions League final feature pre-match concerts, such performances have not been commonplace in soccer. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the show a "groundbreaking spectacle" that will "celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle".
The show will take place during the final outside New York on July 19. The 2026 tournament, the biggest ever, kicked off with 48 teams playing across Mexico, Canada and the US. As the quarter-finals resume, the world will soon turn its attention to the final, where the inaugural halftime show is set to become a defining moment of this historic World Cup.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments