2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show: Setlist, Performers & Highlights
The 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show made history on Sunday, July 19, 2026. For the first time in the tournament’s 96 year history, the World Cup final featured a halftime performance, staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber headlined the 11 minute show, joined by Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, the Muppets and Sesame Street characters. Spain went on to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the World Cup.
Global Citizen produced the show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has raised more than $50 million toward its $100 million goal for education and football programs for children worldwide.
This recap covers the full setlist, performers, records, and where to watch the replay.
Quick Facts: 2026 World Cup Halftime Show
- Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Venue: MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament)
- Final Result: Spain 1-0 Argentina (after extra time)
- Show Length: About 11 minutes
- Headliners: Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber
- Also Performed: Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, Ghetto Kids, Emmanuel Kelly
- Special Guests: The Muppets, Sesame Street characters, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
- Closing Song: “We Dance” by Coldplay with the Muppets and PS22 Chorus
- Curator: Chris Martin
- Producer: Global Citizen
- Beneficiary: FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund (more than $50 million raised)
- US Viewership: 38.9 million on FOX, the most watched soccer telecast in US history
What Happened at the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show?
The first World Cup halftime show ran approximately 11 minutes during the break of the Spain vs Argentina final. The performance moved fast, packing six musical segments, celebrity cameos and fireworks into an extended halftime break before the field was cleared for the second half.
Full setlist, in order:
- Madonna opened with “Music” and her new single “Danceteria,” arriving through the stadium tunnels in a golf cart driven by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
- Gustavo Dudamel and the Muppets performed an orchestral “Seven Nation Army” with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
- BTS performed “Dynamite,” having flown in from Paris less than 24 hours before the final.
- Justin Bieber sang “Everything Hallelujah” after a pep talk from Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, alongside Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard.
- Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai,” the official 2026 World Cup song that sat at No. 1 on the Billboard global charts.
- Coldplay, the Muppets and the PS22 Chorus closed the show with “We Dance,” with Chris Martin joining the Staten Island school choir on stage as fireworks capped the performance.
Ghetto Kids, the Ugandan dance troupe, and Iraqi born Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly also featured in the performance.
Who Performed at the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show?
FIFA and Global Citizen announced Shakira, Madonna and BTS as headliners on May 14, 2026, then added Justin Bieber and the full lineup on July 8, 2026.
- Shakira: Returned to the World Cup stage after “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in 2010 and “La La La (Brazil 2014).” She previously headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020 with Jennifer Lopez.
- Madonna: Made her World Cup debut, 14 years after headlining the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, weeks after releasing her album “Confessions II” on July 3, 2026.
- BTS: Delivered the first K-pop performance at a World Cup final. All seven members reunited in 2026 for the “ARIRANG” album and world tour after completing military service.
- Justin Bieber: Joined the lineup on July 8, 2026. “The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” he said before the show.
- Burna Boy: Became the first African artist on a World Cup final halftime stage, calling it “a privilege and a responsibility.”
- Gustavo Dudamel: The Venezuelan conductor led musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, joined by Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi.
Who Produced the Halftime Show?
Global Citizen produced the show in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. Chris Martin of Coldplay was the creative curator, working with Coldplay manager Phil Harvey. Martin also curated the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, which featured J Balvin, Doja Cat and Tems.
How Long Was the Halftime Show?
The performance ran approximately 11 minutes inside an extended halftime break. The standard break in international football is 15 minutes under the Laws of the Game, and FIFA stretched the final’s break to roughly 17 to 20 minutes to allow the stage to be built and cleared. By comparison, the Super Bowl halftime show runs 12 to 15 minutes inside a roughly 30 minute break.
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
The halftime show supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. The fund passed $50 million before the final, boosted by $1 from every 2026 World Cup ticket sold, and has awarded its first grants to community organizations. It also supports FIFA’s Football for Schools program in more than 200 countries. This was the first World Cup halftime show tied to a global charitable initiative.
Spain Won the Final and TV Records Fell
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner to give La Roja their second World Cup title. Earlier in the day, Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony with Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, plus a Tom Cruise appearance, and Jennifer Hudson sang the US national anthem. Around 50,000 fans watched the final and the halftime show on giant screens at the free Central Park watch party on the Great Lawn.
The broadcast smashed records. FOX averaged 38.9 million viewers, the most watched soccer telecast in US history, and combined English and Spanish language coverage across FOX and Telemundo topped 60 million, peaking at 51.7 million on FOX alone. It was the largest non NFL US TV audience in nearly 30 years. Global viewership figures from FIFA are expected to exceed the 1.5 billion who watched the 2022 final.
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show Replay
Full replays and highlights of the 2026 World Cup halftime show are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, the FIFA TikTok hub, and broadcaster platforms including the FOX Sports app in the US, BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK, and CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil. Individual performance clips from Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Coldplay are also on the artists’ official channels.
2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show FAQ
What songs were performed at the World Cup halftime show?
The setlist featured Madonna with Music and Danceteria, an orchestral Seven Nation Army led by Gustavo Dudamel with the Muppets, Dynamite by BTS, Everything Hallelujah by Justin Bieber, Dai Dai by Shakira and Burna Boy, and the closing song We Dance by Coldplay with the Muppets and PS22 Chorus.
Did BTS perform at the World Cup halftime show?
Yes. All seven BTS members performed Dynamite, flying in from their ARIRANG world tour stop in Paris less than 24 hours before the final. It was the first K-pop performance at a World Cup final.
Did Coldplay perform at the halftime show?
Yes. Coldplay closed the show performing We Dance with the Muppets and the PS22 Chorus from Staten Island, and Chris Martin also served as the show’s creative curator.
How long was the World Cup halftime show?
The performance ran approximately 11 minutes inside an extended halftime break of roughly 17 to 20 minutes, compared with football’s standard 15 minute break.
Was this the first World Cup halftime show ever?
Yes. The 2026 final staged the first halftime show in World Cup history. The 2014 final in Brazil had a closing ceremony before kickoff, but the halftime break itself had no entertainment.
How many people watched the halftime show?
FOX averaged 38.9 million US viewers for the final, the most watched soccer telecast in US history, with combined FOX and Telemundo coverage topping 60 million and a peak of 51.7 million. Global figures are expected to exceed the 1.5 billion who watched the 2022 final.
Where can I watch the World Cup halftime show replay?
Full replays and highlights are on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, the FIFA TikTok hub, and broadcaster platforms such as the FOX Sports app, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and CazeTV on YouTube.
Will future World Cup finals have halftime shows?
FIFA has not announced whether the halftime show will become a permanent fixture. After record US viewership for the 2026 final, a repeat at the 2030 World Cup is widely expected but not confirmed.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show delivered on its historic billing. Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber packed six performances into 11 minutes, Coldplay and a school choir closed it with the Muppets, and Spain lifted the trophy after a 1-0 extra time win over Argentina.
With record breaking US viewership and more than $50 million raised for children’s education, the first World Cup halftime show set a template that future finals will be measured against.
