BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA confirmed the lineup through an Instagram announcement, with the final scheduled for July 19.
The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City. The 2026 edition marks an expansion to 48 national teams, with matches spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The final at MetLife Stadium will be the first World Cup final held in the United States since 1994, when the Rose Bowl hosted the decisive match.
Chris Martin, frontman of Coldplay, will curate the show. The performance supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has set a goal of raising $100 million to expand access to education and football for children worldwide. FIFA confirmed $1 from every ticket sold to any World Cup 2026 match will go directly to the fund.
FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show performers
The three acts span different generations and musical traditions, with each bringing a fanbase that crosses national borders. The combination of a Korean pop group, an American pop icon, and a Latin artist reflects the worldwide reach of a tournament played across three countries.
BTS, the South Korean pop group, built one of the largest global fanbases in contemporary music over the past decade. Several members completed South Korean mandatory military service in recent years, and the group has performed at high-profile events beyond concert tours, including an address at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018.
Madonna has been recording and performing since the early 1980s and ranks among the best-selling recording artists in history. She completed the Celebration Tour in 2023 and 2024 after a health emergency delayed the run.
Shakira holds a direct tie to the World Cup. She performed at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” was the official tournament anthem. Her appearance at the 2026 final connects both editions of the event.
The Global Citizen fund
Global Citizen is an advocacy platform known for organizing benefit concerts tied to action campaigns on global poverty, education, and climate issues. The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund sets a $100 million fundraising target, one of the larger charitable goals attached to a single sporting event.
The per-ticket donation model means contributions accumulate through normal ticket purchases rather than separate charity sales. With 48 teams competing across 16 host cities, the total match count and the ticket pool both exceed any previous World Cup.
How to watch
US viewers can watch all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish. In the United Kingdom, the BBC and ITV hold broadcasting rights and will carry the tournament free-to-air on both channels.
MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, holds roughly 82,500 spectators. The venue is part of the New York metropolitan area and one of the larger outdoor stadiums currently operating in the country.