2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show: Performers, Start Time & How to Watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show will make history on July 19, 2026. FIFA confirmed on May 14, 2026 that Shakira, Madonna, and BTS will headline the first halftime performance ever staged at a World Cup final.
The show takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, branded as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
Global Citizen is producing the show. Coldplay’s Chris Martin is curating the lineup. The performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million 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 Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET
- Halftime Show Start: Approximately 3:50 PM ET
- Show Length: 11 minutes
- Headliners: Shakira, Madonna, BTS
- Curator: Chris Martin
- Producer: Global Citizen
- Special Guests: The Muppets, Sesame Street characters
- Beneficiary: FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
- 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 is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The venue is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FIFA refers to the stadium as “New York New Jersey Stadium” during the tournament due to sponsorship rules. MetLife has a listed capacity of 82,500, though 1,740 corner seats were removed to widen the pitch for FIFA’s field dimensions.
The match kicks off at 3:00 PM ET. FIFA announced the kickoff time on December 6, 2025, the day after the Final Draw. The afternoon start allows for prime-time viewing in Europe and South America.
Final kickoff times by region:
| Region | Local Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern US (ET) | 3:00 PM, July 19 |
| Pacific US (PT) | 12:00 PM, July 19 |
| UK (BST) | 8:00 PM, July 19 |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 9:00 PM, July 19 |
| Brazil (BRT) | 4:00 PM, July 19 |
| India (IST) | 12:30 AM, July 20 |
| Japan (JST) | 4:00 AM, July 20 |
| Australia (AEST) | 5:00 AM, July 20 |
What Time is the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show?
The halftime show will begin during the halftime break. Based on a standard 45-minute first half plus stoppage time, the show start is expected at approximately 3:50 PM ET, about 50 minutes after the final kicks off.
Estimated halftime show start times:
| Region | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Eastern US (ET) | 3:50 PM |
| Pacific US (PT) | 12:50 PM |
| UK (BST) | 8:50 PM |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 9:50 PM |
| Brazil (BRT) | 4:50 PM |
| India (IST) | 1:20 AM (July 20) |
| Japan (JST) | 4:50 AM (July 20) |
| Australia (AEST) | 5:50 AM (July 20) |
The exact halftime break depends on stoppage time added to the first half. FIFA has not confirmed whether the standard 15-minute break will be extended for the show. Per Billboard, the performance itself will run approximately 11 minutes.
Who is Performing at the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show?
FIFA and Global Citizen officially announced the headliners on May 14, 2026 (the announcement video posted at 9:00 PM PT on May 13). Three global music stars will co-headline:
- Shakira: The Colombian artist returns to the World Cup stage. She previously performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and “La La La (Brazil 2014),” the secondary anthem of the 2014 tournament. Her new song “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy is the official 2026 World Cup song, released May 14, 2026.
- Madonna: The pop icon makes her World Cup debut. She previously headlined the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012. Her new album “Confessions II” is scheduled for release on July 3, 2026.
- BTS: The South Korean group brings K-pop to the World Cup final for the first time. All seven members completed their mandatory South Korean military service by June 2025. The group released their sixth studio album “ARIRANG” on March 20, 2026, and their ARIRANG World Tour is currently underway.
Special appearances:
- The Muppets: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal, and other Muppet characters will appear during the show.
- Sesame Street: Elmo, Cookie Monster, and other Sesame Street characters will join the performance.
The announcement video featured Chris Martin alongside Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Animal. BTS appeared via FaceTime in the same clip.
Two of the three headliners have prior Super Bowl halftime experience. Madonna performed at Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. Shakira co-headlined Super Bowl LIV in 2020 with Jennifer Lopez.
Who is Producing the Halftime Show?
Global Citizen is producing the 2026 World Cup halftime show. FIFA announced the partnership on September 28, 2024 at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, and ambassador Hugh Jackman made the announcement, with DJ Khaled and Gayle King in attendance. The two organizations have a four-year partnership.
Chris Martin of Coldplay is the show’s creative curator. He previously curated the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show, which featured J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems and took place at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025. Phil Harvey, Coldplay’s longtime manager, also serves in a creative role. Coldplay itself is not confirmed to perform at the 2026 final.
Global Citizen is an international advocacy organization focused on ending extreme poverty. According to the organization, it has helped deploy more than $43.6 billion in commitments through its platform and impacted approximately 1.3 billion lives.
How Long is the Halftime Show?
The halftime show will run approximately 11 minutes, per a Billboard report on May 14, 2026. That fits inside the standard 15-minute halftime break used in international football, per the Laws of the Game from the International Football Association Board.
FIFA has not confirmed whether the halftime break itself will be extended. The Super Bowl halftime show typically runs 12 to 15 minutes during a 30-minute break, but football’s 15-minute break has not historically been adjusted for entertainment.
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund
The halftime show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The fund aims to raise $100 million by the 2026 World Cup Final to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. The fund supports FIFA’s Football for Schools program across more than 200 countries. As of May 2026, the fund has raised more than $30 million.
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.
- Proceeds from halftime show partnerships contribute to the total.
- Public donations through Global Citizen’s platform add to the fund.
This is the first time a World Cup halftime show has been tied to a global charitable initiative.
Other Musical Performances at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 tournament features multiple music moments beyond the halftime show. FIFA announced opening ceremony lineups in early May 2026.
Opening Ceremonies
The 2026 World Cup features three opening ceremonies, one per host nation.
- United States (Los Angeles): Katy Perry headlines on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium before USA vs Paraguay. Future and DJ Sanjoy also perform.
- Canada (Toronto): Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince perform on June 12 at Toronto Stadium.
- Mexico (Mexico City): Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla perform on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium. The ceremony takes place 90 minutes before Mexico vs South Africa.
Additional opening ceremony performers across the three host nations include LISA and Anitta.
Official 2026 World Cup Song
“Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy is the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The track was released on May 14, 2026.
Times Square Fan Event
FIFA and Global Citizen will also host a large public event in Times Square during the World Cup finals weekend in mid-July 2026. The Times Square activation will include live music performances, four live broadcast crosses into the bronze-medal match in Miami and the final at MetLife Stadium, and a fan watch party. Times Square draws more than 300,000 daily visitors. The event runs alongside the in-stadium halftime show.
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show Live
The halftime show airs live during the World Cup final broadcast. Coverage is available on TV and streaming in major markets.
United States
- FOX carries the English-language broadcast (every knockout match from July 4 onward airs on FOX).
- Telemundo carries the Spanish-language broadcast.
- FOX One streams all 104 matches in English (subscription required).
- Tubi streams the opening ceremony and select matches free.
- Peacock streams all 104 matches in Spanish (Premium subscription required).
United Kingdom
- BBC and ITV share UK rights.
- BBC iPlayer and ITVX offer free streaming.
Canada
- CTV carries the final free over the air.
- TSN and RDS (Bell Media) provide additional coverage.
- TSN Direct offers streaming.
Australia
- SBS carries the broadcast free.
- SBS On Demand offers free streaming.
Mexico
- TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca carry the final free.
Brazil
- Grupo Globo leads coverage on TV.
- CazéTV streams all 104 matches free on YouTube.
Other Markets
Local rights holders carry the final across all FIFA territories. TikTok has been FIFA’s preferred social platform since January 8, 2026. Broadcast rights holders can livestream parts of all 104 matches via a dedicated TikTok hub through the end of 2026. YouTube became a preferred platform on March 17, 2026, allowing broadcasters to stream the first 10 minutes of every match.
Replays of the halftime show are expected on FIFA’s official YouTube channel and broadcaster platforms after the final.
2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show FAQ
Will BTS perform together at the halftime show?
FIFA announced BTS as co-headliners. The group’s full lineup for the performance has not yet been confirmed. All seven BTS members completed their mandatory South Korean military service by June 2025 and reunited as a group for their ARIRANG album and tour in 2026.
Is Coldplay performing at the halftime show?
No. Chris Martin is the curator and creative lead, but Coldplay is not listed among the headliners.
Can fans attend the halftime show without a match ticket?
No. The halftime show takes place inside MetLife Stadium during the final. Only ticket holders for the final can watch the show in person. FIFA is hosting a free public watch party in Times Square during finals weekend as an alternative.
Will the halftime show have fireworks and special effects?
FIFA has not released production details. Expect large-scale lighting, video screens, and visual effects in line with major stadium concerts.
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 separate closing ceremony before kickoff with Shakira, Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, and others performing “We Will Find a Way,” 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. 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, and BTS will headline the first halftime performance in World Cup history on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium.
Chris Martin’s curation and Global Citizen’s production tie the show to a global education fund supporting children worldwide. Tune in at approximately 3:50 PM ET during the FIFA World Cup final to watch the show live.
