The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked a new tradition with the introduction of its inaugural half-time show on Sunday, July 20th, 2026, held at the temporarily renamed New York New Jersey stadium. The event featured a star-studded lineup including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, and Australian singer-songwriter Emmanuel Kelly, who gained fame through his performances on The X Factor.

Madonna opened the show with her 2000 hit "Music," blending it with elements of the 1976 disco classic "Disco Inferno," famously part of the 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The entire performance adhered closely to the 11-minute time limit, exceeding it by only about 30 seconds. Justin Bieber followed with a notably lower energy performance of "Everything Hallelujah" from his 2025 album Swag II.

While many welcomed the spectacle, some football purists expressed dissatisfaction. Former Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney shared a candid critique live on the BBC, stating, "It just didn't get me going and I wanted the football to come back on … I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat."

The event underscored football's unifying power, described as "a language spoken without words, a force that unites people, turns strangers into friends, and reminds us of what we all have in common."

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