The first-ever half-time World Cup final is all set to see Shakira, Madonna and K-pop superstars headline, a line-up that is already creating huge excitement among fans.
The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and is expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide.
This year’s tournament kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, with matches in multiple locations across the US, Canada and Mexico.
In a related statement, FIFA said that the final, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will be produced by the non-profit organization Global Citizen and benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The social media announcement further revealed that Martin will be joined by characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, with a special cameo from BTS.
Looking ahead, FIFA President Gianni Infantino promoted the opening act at a World Cup event in March 2025. He believed that this will be a historic moment for the tournament – a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.
However, the official rules of football, as set out by the International Football Association Board, are unclear; they state that halftime breaks should not last longer than 15 minutes, leaving uncertainty over whether FIFA will emulate the Super Bowl halftime style.
With the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place in the US, Canada and Mexico, each host nation will present its own grand achievements and celebration.
Mexico kicks off on June 11 (featuring the best of Latin Music: Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana and Tyla), followed by Toronto the next day on June 12. Canada features beloved Canadian artists Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Revez, Michael Buble, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince. Los Angeles kicks off their opening final at SoFi Stadium with global stars Anitta, Future, Katy Perry, LISA, Rema and Tyla as headliners.
