BTS, Madonna, Shakira to Headline 2026 World Cup Final Halftime

Global Citizen and FIFA announced that K-pop group BTS, Madonna and Shakira will co-headline the first-ever halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The performance, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, marks a historic addition to the tournament's marquee match. An announcement video featured Martin alongside Sesame Street characters including Elmo and Cookie Monster, as well as Muppets such as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. The group even connected with BTS via FaceTime in the clip. Global Citizen is producing the show, which will be broadcast live worldwide.

Proceeds from the halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million for quality education and soccer access for children in underserved communities globally. The fund has already collected more than $30 million, bolstered by $1 donations from every World Cup match ticket sold.

The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins June 11. It will be the first World Cup in the U.S. since 1994, when matches drew record crowds across several cities...