2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show: Performers, Start Time & How to Watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show will make history on Sunday, July 19, 2026. For the first time in the tournament’s 96 year history, the World Cup final will feature a halftime performance, staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
FIFA confirmed Shakira, Madonna and BTS as headliners on May 14, 2026, then added Justin Bieber as a fourth headliner on July 8, 2026. Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay complete the lineup, with the Muppets and Sesame Street characters making special appearances.
Global Citizen is producing the show and Coldplay’s Chris Martin is curating it. The performance supports 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 guide covers the confirmed performers, start time, broadcast details, and FAQs.
Quick Facts: 2026 World Cup Halftime Show
- Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Venue: MetLife Stadium (called New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament)
- Final Matchup: Spain vs Argentina
- Final Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET
- Halftime Show Start: Approximately 3:45 PM ET
- Show Length: About 11 minutes inside an extended halftime break
- Closing Ceremony: 1:30 PM ET, headlined by Post Malone
- Headliners: Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber
- Also Performing: Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay
- Special Guests: The Muppets, Sesame Street characters
- Curator: Chris Martin
- Producer: Global Citizen
- Beneficiary: FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund (more than $50 million raised)
- Target Audience: 2 billion viewers (FIFA estimate)
- US Broadcast: FOX and Telemundo
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final kicks off at 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FIFA calls the venue “New York New Jersey Stadium” during the tournament due to sponsorship rules. The stadium holds about 82,500 fans for the final.
The final is set: Spain face Argentina. Spain beat France 2-0 on July 14 in Dallas, and Argentina came from behind to defeat England 2-1 on July 15 in Atlanta, with Lionel Messi driving a late rally. England beat France 6-4 in a ten goal third place match on July 18 in Miami.
What Time is the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show?
The FIFA World Cup halftime show is expected to start at approximately 3:45 PM ET, depending on first half stoppage time, about 45 to 50 minutes after kickoff.
Final kickoff and halftime show times by region:
| Region | Final Kickoff | Halftime Show (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern US (ET) | 3:00 PM, July 19 | 3:45 PM |
| Pacific US (PT) | 12:00 PM, July 19 | 12:45 PM |
| UK (BST) | 8:00 PM, July 19 | 8:45 PM |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 9:00 PM, July 19 | 9:45 PM |
| Brazil (BRT) | 4:00 PM, July 19 | 4:45 PM |
| India (IST) | 12:30 AM, July 20 | 1:15 AM, July 20 |
| Japan (JST) | 4:00 AM, July 20 | 4:45 AM, July 20 |
| Australia (AEST) | 5:00 AM, July 20 | 5:45 AM, July 20 |
FIFA has extended the final’s halftime break beyond the standard 15 minutes to fit the show. FIFA communicated a plan of about 17 minutes to both federations on July 17, while broadcasters report the break is targeted at no more than 20 minutes to cover the 11 minute performance plus stage setup and teardown. The second half should begin between roughly 4:05 and 4:10 PM ET.
Who is Performing at the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show?
FIFA and Global Citizen announced Shakira, Madonna and BTS as headliners on May 14, 2026. On July 8, 2026, FIFA confirmed Justin Bieber as the fourth headliner and revealed the full lineup.
- Shakira: The Colombian star returns to the World Cup stage after “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in 2010 and “La La La (Brazil 2014).” Her track “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy is the official 2026 World Cup song and sits at No. 1 on the Billboard global charts. She headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020 with Jennifer Lopez.
- Madonna: The pop icon makes her World Cup debut. She headlined the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012 and released her new album “Confessions II” on July 3, 2026.
- BTS: The South Korean group brings K-pop to a World Cup final for the first time. All seven members completed military service by June 2025, released the album “ARIRANG” on March 20, 2026, and are on a world tour.
- Justin Bieber: The Canadian superstar joined the lineup on July 8, 2026. “The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show,” Bieber said.
Also performing:
- Burna Boy: The Nigerian artist co-leads the official song “Dai Dai” with Shakira. He called representing Africa at the first World Cup final halftime show “a privilege and a responsibility.”
- Gustavo Dudamel: The Venezuelan conductor leads musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
- PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay: The famous elementary school choir from Staten Island, New York performs alongside Coldplay.
- Ghetto Kids and Emmanuel Kelly: The Ugandan dance troupe and the Iraqi born Australian singer joined the lineup in the final week.
- The Muppets and Sesame Street: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Elmo, Cookie Monster and friends make special appearances.
Who is Producing the Halftime Show?
Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization focused on ending extreme poverty, is producing the show in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. FIFA announced the four year Global Citizen partnership on September 28, 2024 at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park.
Chris Martin of Coldplay is the creative curator, working alongside Coldplay manager Phil Harvey. Martin previously curated the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium, which featured J Balvin, Doja Cat and Tems.
How Long is the Halftime Show?
The performance will run approximately 11 minutes inside an extended halftime break. The standard break in international football is 15 minutes under the Laws of the Game. FIFA notified the Spanish and Argentine federations on July 17 of a roughly 17 minute break, and broadcasters report a target of no more than 20 minutes including stage setup and teardown. 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 supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. As of July 2026, the fund has raised more than $50 million and has awarded its first grants to community organizations. It also supports FIFA’s Football for Schools program in more than 200 countries.
How the fund is supported:
- $1 from every 2026 World Cup ticket sold goes to the fund.
- $1 from every 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ticket also went to the fund.
- Halftime show partnerships and public donations through Global Citizen’s platform add to the total.
This is the first time a World Cup halftime show has been tied to a global charitable initiative.
Closing Ceremony and National Anthem
Before the final, FIFA stages a closing ceremony at the stadium starting at 1:30 PM ET on July 19. Post Malone headlines, joined by Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by Tom Cruise. Jennifer Hudson performs the US national anthem before kickoff.
Central Park Watch Party
FIFA, Global Citizen and the New York New Jersey Host Committee are hosting a free watch party on Central Park’s Great Lawn on July 19. Around 50,000 fans will watch the final and the halftime show on three giant LED screens, with live entertainment and iHeartRadio DJs throughout the day.
Entry is free but requires a ticket from a random draw, with the last winner selections on July 15 and 16. At least 20 percent of tickets are reserved for New York City nonprofits, community groups and volunteers.
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show Live
The halftime show airs live within the World Cup final broadcast. Coverage is available on TV and streaming in every major market.
United States
- FOX carries the English language broadcast of the final.
- Telemundo carries the Spanish language broadcast.
- FOX One streams the final in English (subscription required).
- Peacock streams the final in Spanish (Premium subscription required).
United Kingdom
- BBC and ITV share UK rights, with free streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Canada
- CTV carries the final free over the air, with TSN, RDS and TSN Direct providing additional coverage and streaming.
Australia
- SBS carries the broadcast free, including streaming on SBS On Demand.
Mexico and Brazil
- TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca carry the final free in Mexico.
- Grupo Globo leads TV coverage in Brazil, and CazéTV streams the final free on YouTube.
Local rights holders carry the final across all other FIFA territories. Replays and highlights of the halftime show are expected on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, its TikTok hub, and broadcaster platforms after the final.
2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show FAQ
Is Justin Bieber performing at the World Cup halftime show?
Yes. FIFA announced Justin Bieber as the fourth headliner on July 8, 2026. He joins Shakira, Madonna, and BTS at the top of the bill for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.
Will BTS perform together at the halftime show?
Yes. All seven BTS members completed their South Korean military service by June 2025 and reunited for their ARIRANG album and world tour in 2026. The final marks the first K-pop performance at a World Cup final.
Is Coldplay performing at the halftime show?
Yes. FIFA lists the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay in the official lineup announced on July 8, 2026. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin also serves as the show’s creative curator.
Can fans attend the halftime show without a match ticket?
The show takes place inside MetLife Stadium, so only ticket holders for the final can watch it in person. However, 50,000 fans can watch it live at the free Central Park watch party on the Great Lawn, which requires a free ticket from a random draw.
How long is the World Cup halftime show?
The performance runs approximately 11 minutes. FIFA has extended the halftime break beyond the standard 15 minutes, with plans of roughly 17 to 20 minutes to allow stage setup and teardown around the show.
Has the World Cup final ever had a halftime show before?
No. The 2026 final marks the first halftime show in World Cup history. The 2014 final in Brazil featured a closing ceremony before kickoff with Shakira and others, but the halftime break itself had no entertainment.
How many people are expected to watch the halftime show?
FIFA and Global Citizen are targeting an audience of approximately 2 billion viewers globally. The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France drew more than 1.5 billion live viewers.
Where can I watch the halftime show online after the match?
FIFA and broadcast partners typically post highlights on official YouTube channels, and the FIFA TikTok hub may carry clips during and after the broadcast. Full performance video usually appears within 24 to 48 hours after the final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show marks a new era for the world’s biggest sporting event. Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber headline the first halftime performance in World Cup history on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay rounding out the lineup.
Spain face Argentina in the final, with the show landing inside an extended halftime break. Tune in at approximately 3:45 PM ET on FOX or Telemundo in the US to watch it live.
