Organizers announced on Thursday that Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop megastars BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marks a historic first for a football World Cup final.
Chris Martin Curates the Show
Coldplay's Chris Martin is curating the show. He made the announcement on his social media handle, stating: "Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, the show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, improving access to quality education and football for children around the world."
FIFA's Historic Decision
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had announced in March last year that there would be "the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final." He did not specify the performers or the duration of the show and half-time at that time. Infantino later commented on Instagram: "This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world."
The move mirrors the half-time show held during the 2024 Copa America final in Miami, where Colombian star Shakira performed at Hard Rock Stadium. Additionally, a half-time show at last year's FIFA Club World Cup final, also at MetLife Stadium, extended the break beyond the regulation 15 minutes. Infantino added that FIFA also plans to "take over" New York's Times Square on the final weekend of the World Cup.
Shakira's New World Cup Song
Shakira recently teased the new official song for the 2026 World Cup, releasing a brief video of the track filmed at Brazil's iconic Maracana Stadium. The singer, who also created the 2010 World Cup anthem "Waka Waka," announced the song titled "Dai Dai" on her Instagram account. In the 67-second video, Shakira appears on the pitch at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, where she performed a free concert at Copacabana Beach last Saturday before two million people. Holding the "Trionda," the official match ball of the 2026 World Cup, Shakira performed excerpts of the song in English, joined by dancers dressed in the colors of teams including the United States and Colombia. The song was produced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is set for official release on Thursday. The clip, also shared by the FIFA World Cup account, ends with the message: "We're ready!"
Shakira has a long association with the World Cup, having performed at the 2006 and 2014 World Cup finals in addition to producing "Waka Waka" for the 2010 tournament.
