The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will headline the first halftime show in the history of the FIFA World Cup final.
The performance is scheduled for July 19, 2026, during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. The stadium will host the final match of the tournament, which will be jointly organized by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Shakira has now been linked with four different World Cup cycles:
- performed at the 2006 World Cup final
- created “Waka Waka” for 2010
- performed again in 2014
- now connected to 2026 through “Dai Dai.”
That long relationship with FIFA is one reason she was seen as a likely choice for the first halftime show.
Madonna is also reportedly expected to use the World Cup performance to promote her upcoming album Confessions II, a sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor.
K-Pop megastars BTS recently returned from their military service hiatus and released the album ARIRANG, described as one of the biggest music releases of 2026.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the event as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
The halftime show is being organized in partnership with Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.
According to FIFA, the event will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children’s education and access to football programs around the world.
The show is expected to follow a format similar to the halftime entertainment staged during the Super Bowl in the United States.
Shakira’s participation this year follows the release of “Dai Dai,” the official song for the 2026 World Cup, produced with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The track was announced in May 2026 and continues Shakira’s longstanding association with FIFA tournaments, following the success of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Burna Boy was not officially announced as a halftime performer in the reports, but his role in producing “Dai Dai” with Shakira has generated attention among Nigerian fans.
Some fans assume he could make a surprise appearance, though FIFA has not confirmed that.
The 2026 tournament will also be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 national teams. The competition begins on June 11, 2026, before concluding with the final in New Jersey on July 19.
