The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina was already one of the biggest sporting events of the year, but it became even more historic when football’s biggest stage hosted its first-ever official halftime show. Held at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, the 11-minute performance brought together a star-heavy lineup featuring Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the Muppets and several surprise guests. Curated by Chris Martin and connected to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the show tried to give the World Cup final a Super Bowl-style entertainment moment while keeping a global flavour. Madonna opened the performance with her classic hit Music, accompanied by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, creating one of the most visually striking moments of the show. The Muppets then added a playful twist with Seven Nation Army, before BTS lifted the stadium energy with Dynamite. Justin Bieber followed with a stripped-down acoustic performance, introduced by Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, while Shakira and Burna Boy closed the main star segment with Dai Dai, the official 2026 World Cup anthem. The finale brought together Chris Martin, a children’s chorus and the Muppets for an emotional closing message centred on unity. While the show was historic and packed with global names, reactions were mixed because so many performers had to fit into a very short runtime, leaving some moments feeling rushed. Still, the halftime show marked a major shift in how FIFA presents the World Cup final, blending football, pop culture, celebrity spectacle and global charity messaging. Spain eventually went on to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time, but the halftime show ensured that the final would also be remembered as the night FIFA officially stepped into the world of large-scale sports entertainment.
