The 2026 FIFA Halftime Show Was a Spectacular, Chaotic Mess

Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and more joined forces for FIFA World Cup Final’s first-ever halftime show.

After 45+ minutes of first-half action, the field at MetLife Stadium — excuse me, New York/New Jersey Stadium (as FIFA demands it be called) — was cleared for the halftime show, the first in the World Cup’s 96 year existence. FIFA even broke their own rules and allowed for the halftime break to be up to 30 minutes as opposed to the usual 15 minutes, but given the overall number of performers and the preparation needed, it’s easy to see why.

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Madonna kicked things off with a medley of “Music” and “Danceteria,” joined by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo in a nightclub themed set. From there, the production moved at a dizzying pace: Gustavo Dudamel conducted Iranian vocalist Bijan Mortazavi, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the New York Philharmonic, and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra through a cover of “Seven Nation Army,” before BTS brought the “Dynamite.”

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Jason Sudeikis and fellow Ted Lasso cast member Brendan Hunt then introduced Justin Bieber, who brought the momentum to a near standstill with a subdued acoustic rendition of “Everything Hallelujah.” Shakira and Burna Boy quickly revived the atmosphere with “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 World Cup and one of the show’s strongest moments.

The PS22 Chorus closed the production with an original song titled “We Dance,” joined by members of Coldplay, Shakira, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and a seemingly endless procession of other musicians.

All told, it was an extraordinary amount of spectacle crammed into roughly 11 minutes. The show was chaotic, occasionally messy, and burdened by transitions, particularly the tonal whiplash between BTS and Bieber. Still, there were flashes of genuine fun, most notably from BTS and Shakira, and the sheer scale of the production was difficult to deny. It may not have been especially coherent, especially in comparison to the NFL’s Super Bowl spectacle, but it certainly lived up to its billing as a halftime show for the biggest sporting event in the world.

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Aside from being quite a spectacle, the Global Citizen-produced show also came in support of a cause. It was designed to spotlight the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a joint initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. According to the organizations, more than $50 million has already been raised, with $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches contributing to the campaign throughout the tournament.

Bieber’s appearance, which was only confirmed 11 days before the Final, arrives after a particularly active period for the pop star; he headlined Coachella 2026 back in April, and last month, he surprise-released a new live album SWAG LIVE FROM COACHELLA (WEEKEND I). Meanwhile, Madonna is also coming off a major release, having revealed her new album Confessions II this month.

BTS and Shakira, on the other hand, are in the midst of some major 2026 tours; the newly-reunited BTS are about to kick off the next leg of their “ARIRANG World Tour” with 16 shows in the US and Canada, while Shakira rounds out the final North American leg of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour.” Get tickets to see BTS here and Shakira here.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Halftime Setlist:

Madonna – “Music/Danceteria”

Gustavo Dudamel, Iranian vocalist Bijan Mortazav, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the New York Philharmonic, and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela – “Seven Nation Army”

BTS – “Dynamite”

Justin Bieber – “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH”

Shakira and Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”

PS22 Chorus, Coldplay, Shakira, Kermit the Frog, and Miss Piggy – “We Dance”