Pop superstars Shakira, Madonna, and BTS will perform during halftime of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. The program is curated by Coldplay lead vocalist Chris Martin.
The news was announced in a social media trailer starring Martin alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster of Sesame Street, as well as Kermit, Miss Piggy, and more from The Muppets, who will be starring in a segment throughout the program showing the stats of the games, according to USA Today. The video also shows both sides calling up BTS on FaceTime.
Shakira’s name had already been linked to this year’s World Cup with the announcement of “Dai Dai,” her official 2026 World Cup song with Burna Boy. Officially, this will be Shakira’s second FIFA World Cup song following “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” recorded for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
It couldn’t be more appropriate that some of the artists involved in the halftime show are in the middle of their comebacks in the music scene, with album releases and world tours on the way. Madonna will be gearing up for a massive return to music with her new album Confessions II, the sequel to her 2005 classic Confessions on a Dance Floor, arriving July 3. BTS made a major return to music earlier this year with the March 20 release of their sixth studio album ARIRANG, the South Korean group’s first project since going on hiatus for each member to complete their military service. They are currently promoting the album with a global tour.
Last May 11, FIFA announced that Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA, and Anitta were slated to perform during the 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies set across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
