Madonna, BTS and Shakira headline star-studded World Cup final halftime show

Madonna, BTS and Shakira headline star-studded World Cup final halftime show
Reuters

Music icons Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Burna Boy performed during the FIFA World Cup final halftime show, bringing a Super Bowl-style spectacle to football's biggest stage. More than 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium watched the landmark performance.

A Super Bowl-style World Cup

The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured the tournament's first major halftime show, inspired by the entertainment spectacle of the Super Bowl.

Spain v Argentina - Halftime Show - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - 19 July, 2026
Reuters
Football legends join in

Madonna, Shakira and Burna Boy headlined the show. They were joined by BTS, Coldplay, Justin Bieber and conductor Gustavo Dudamel at MetLife Stadium.

Brazilian football greats Ronaldinho and Ronaldo also appeared on stage alongside Madonna, while Sesame Street characters and the Muppets took part in the performance.

Former Brazil football players Ronaldinho and Ronaldo with Madonna during the half time show. REUTERS
Reuters
BTS return to the spotlight

The performance marked another milestone in BTS' comeback after a three-year hiatus while members completed South Korea's mandatory military service.

BTS performs during the Halftime Show. Reuters
Reuters
A star-studded lineup

Shakira and Burna Boy reunited after also performing together at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City, making the halftime show one of the most ambitious entertainment productions in FIFA World Cup history.

Justin Bieber performs during the Halftime Show. REUTERS
Reuters
A historic World Cup show

More than 80,000 fans watched the performance at MetLife Stadium.

General view inside the stadium during the halftime show. REUTERS
Reuters

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