For nearly a century, the FIFA World Cup has been the pinnacle of international soccer—but one thing has always been missing: a halftime show. That changes now.
In a groundbreaking move, the 2026 World Cup Final will feature the tournament's first-ever halftime performance. According to USA Today, global superstars BTS, Shakira, and Madonna are set to headline the historic event. The announcement came via nonprofit Global Citizen, with Coldplay's Chris Martin explaining the concept to Elmo and the rest of Sesame Street in a playful Instagram video.
"A halftime show is where people get together, and there's singing, there's dancing, there's music, and there's a chance to show how amazing all different kinds of humans are," Martin told Elmo. The singer, who helped Global Citizen produce the first halftime show for the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2025, emphasized that this performance serves a greater purpose: raising funds for children's education worldwide.
The proceeds will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand access to both education and soccer for children globally. The organization has set an ambitious goal of raising $100 million by the 2026 World Cup Final.
While the final match's halftime show will feature these three iconic acts, each host country will also stage its own opening ceremony, showcasing local artists and talent.
The idea of a World Cup halftime show isn't entirely new. When the tournament last visited the United States 32 years ago, organizers nearly introduced one. Alan Rothenberg, former president of U.S. Soccer who oversaw the 1994 World Cup, told USA Today that Whitney Houston was slated to perform. However, FIFA vetoed the plan over concerns about player warm-ups. Houston's performance was delayed and eventually took place at the closing ceremony instead.
With the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show—featuring Bad Bunny—racking up over 4 billion views, the World Cup's debut halftime performance has the potential to shatter records and captivate a global audience like never before. For fans and players alike, this marks a new era for the beautiful game.