On Sunday, July 19th, 2026, the Fifa World Cup final featured its first-ever half-time show, a 12-minute spectacle that extended the break between Spain and Argentina to 27 minutes. The performance brought together musical headliners Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Coldplay alongside Brazilian football legends and actors from the series Ted Lasso.

The event was a star-packed, Super Bowl-style extravaganza that included a tribute to football icon Pelé and a rendition of “Seven Nation Army” conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with musicians from the US, Venezuela, and Iran. Additionally, Sesame Street and The Muppets characters joined Coldplay and a New York school choir to close the show, which aimed to raise funds for the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund, supporting sports access for underprivileged children.

Organizers described the half-time show as “the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid” and “the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history.” Fifa chief Gianni Infantino predicted that “a couple of billion” viewers tuned in worldwide.

This groundbreaking event marked a new era for football’s showcase, blending entertainment and philanthropy on a global stage.

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