The final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Spain and Argentina will mark a turning point in the history of the tournament this Sunday. For the first time in its 96 years of existence, the title match will feature a halftime show in the style of the Super Bowl, an initiative by FIFA aimed at transforming the experience of the most-watched sporting event on the planet.
The show, which will take place during the halftime of the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will last approximately 11 minutes and will bring together some of the biggest stars in international music.
The lineup includes Madonna, Shakira alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Justin Bieber, the South Korean band BTS with their seven members (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook), and Coldplay, who will perform together with the renowned children's choir PS22.
One of the most moving moments will come with the participation of Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a tribute to the victims of the earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24, 2026, resulting in thousands of deaths and displaced people.
A charity event
The production of the show is handled by Global Citizen, Live Nation, and Done + Dusted, under the artistic direction of Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of Coldplay.
The event is part of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that aims to raise 100 million dollars to fund education programs and expand sports opportunities for children and youth in various regions around the world.
FIFA also confirmed that none of the artists will be paid for their performance, following the same model used by the NFL for the Super Bowl halftime show, where the immense international exposure and support for a social cause replace the payment of fees.
Shakira makes history at the World Cup
Among all the invited artists, Shakira will have a special place.
The Colombian singer already starred in the opening ceremony of the World Cup on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where she performed "Dai Dai" alongside Burna Boy. With her return for the final show, she will become the first artist to participate in both the opening and closing of a FIFA World Cup.
The show will also feature characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets, in line with the educational message promoted by the Global Citizen campaign.
The programming will begin long before the opening whistle.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and will feature performances by Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, and Robbie Williams, as well as special appearances by actor Tom Cruise and content creator IShowSpeed. Before the event begins, Jennifer Hudson will perform the national anthem of the United States.
The halftime show will begin around 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), immediately after the first half of the final.
The broadcast will be available in Spanish on Telemundo and in English on FOX. Those without cable television can follow the signal through streaming platforms like DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV, which offer free trial periods.
In addition to the prestige of winning the world title, the champion between Spain and Argentina will receive a record prize of 50 million dollars, as confirmed by FIFA, in the first World Cup final that will feature both teams.
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