Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will co-headline the inaugural FIFA World Cup halftime show, as announced by the International Federation of Association Football on Wednesday night.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Elmo shared this exciting news in a teaser trailer released at 9 p.m. for the upcoming World Cup halftime show. Alongside Ms. Piggy, Kermit, and other well-known characters from the Muppet crew, Martin and Elmo selected BTS, Madonna, and Shakira as the co-headliners. The teaser also highlighted that the show’s proceeds will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, described by FIFA as “a landmark initiative working to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide.”
The FIFA World Cup Finals are scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This event remains the most-watched annual sporting event globally. In 2022, the finals attracted over 500 million live viewers, surpassing the most-watched Super Bowl ever, which was the 2025 playoff between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, drawing an average of 127.71 million viewers.
FIFA initially explored halftime entertainment by featuring Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin at the 2025 Club World Cup, with these artists also chosen by Martin.
The last time the FIFA World Cup was held in the United States was in 1994, marking it as the most attended World Cup in history. For 2026, the events will commence on June 11, with Fox Sports and Telemundo broadcasting the matches for American audiences.
