Shakira to BTS: FIFA's World Cup final halftime show a celebration of global pop
FIFA's first World Cup final halftime show brought Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy and Coldplay together in an 11-minute set. Fans quickly latched on to Jungkook and Shakira's shared moments as the tournament unveiled a new musical spectacle.
The inaugural FIFA World Cup final halftime show packed an impressive line-up into an 11-minute spectacle, bringing together music icons from across generations and genres. It featured an ensemble including BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and several singers, who gave a hat-tip to global pop. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final was contested between Spain and Argentina, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second FIFA World Cup title.
Madonna opened the show with her 2000 hit Music, making a dramatic entrance alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Global titans BTS followed with an energetic performance of their global smash hit Dynamite, marking another historic milestone for the group as the first K-pop act to perform at a FIFA World Cup final half-time show. For Jungkook, it was also a return to football’s biggest stage. Four years after making history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup event with Dreamers at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, he once again took centre stage at FIFA’s biggest night.
Justin Bieber then shifted the mood with an acoustic rendition of Everything Hallelujah, before Shakira and Burna Boy joined forces for a performance of Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The collaboration brought together Latin pop and Afrobeats, celebrating the tournament’s global spirit.
Shakira’s appearance was especially significant given her enduring relationship with the World Cup. From Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) in 2010 to La La La (Brazil 2014), the Colombian superstar has delivered some of FIFA’s most memorable anthems, making her almost synonymous with football’s biggest tournament. Her return for the inaugural halftime show further cemented that legacy.
Beyond the performances, the event produced several moments that quickly resonated with fans online. Video footage of Jungkook and Justin Bieber sharing the stage spread rapidly across social media, while a backstage clip of Bieber and BTS member Kim Taehyung (V) sharing a handshake became another talking point, delighting fans of both artists.
The finale brought all the evening’s themes together. Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, a special orchestral rendition of Seven Nation Army – the stadium anthem heard at sporting events around the world – set the stage for the closing act. Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus then performed We Dance, ending the historic halftime show on an uplifting note as fireworks lit up the stadium and the performers came together for FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final musical finale.
The final itself drew an extraordinary line-up of celebrities from entertainment, sports and politics. Among those in attendance were US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, David and Victoria Beckham, Mohanlal, Serena Williams, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Will Ferrell, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Martha Stewart, Victor Wembanyama, Post Malone, Pharrell Williams, Julia Garner, Trevor Noah, Anya Taylor-Joy and Adrien Brody.
The inaugural FIFA World Cup final halftime show packed an impressive line-up into an 11-minute spectacle, bringing together music icons from across generations and genres. It featured an ensemble including BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and several singers, who gave a hat-tip to global pop. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final was contested between Spain and Argentina, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second FIFA World Cup title.
Madonna opened the show with her 2000 hit Music, making a dramatic entrance alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Global titans BTS followed with an energetic performance of their global smash hit Dynamite, marking another historic milestone for the group as the first K-pop act to perform at a FIFA World Cup final half-time show. For Jungkook, it was also a return to football’s biggest stage. Four years after making history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup event with Dreamers at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, he once again took centre stage at FIFA’s biggest night.
Justin Bieber then shifted the mood with an acoustic rendition of Everything Hallelujah, before Shakira and Burna Boy joined forces for a performance of Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The collaboration brought together Latin pop and Afrobeats, celebrating the tournament’s global spirit.
Shakira’s appearance was especially significant given her enduring relationship with the World Cup. From Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) in 2010 to La La La (Brazil 2014), the Colombian superstar has delivered some of FIFA’s most memorable anthems, making her almost synonymous with football’s biggest tournament. Her return for the inaugural halftime show further cemented that legacy.
Beyond the performances, the event produced several moments that quickly resonated with fans online. Video footage of Jungkook and Justin Bieber sharing the stage spread rapidly across social media, while a backstage clip of Bieber and BTS member Kim Taehyung (V) sharing a handshake became another talking point, delighting fans of both artists.
The finale brought all the evening’s themes together. Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, a special orchestral rendition of Seven Nation Army – the stadium anthem heard at sporting events around the world – set the stage for the closing act. Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus then performed We Dance, ending the historic halftime show on an uplifting note as fireworks lit up the stadium and the performers came together for FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final musical finale.
The final itself drew an extraordinary line-up of celebrities from entertainment, sports and politics. Among those in attendance were US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, David and Victoria Beckham, Mohanlal, Serena Williams, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Will Ferrell, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Martha Stewart, Victor Wembanyama, Post Malone, Pharrell Williams, Julia Garner, Trevor Noah, Anya Taylor-Joy and Adrien Brody.
The inaugural FIFA World Cup final halftime show packed an impressive line-up into an 11-minute spectacle, bringing together music icons from across generations and genres. It featured an ensemble including BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and several singers, who gave a hat-tip to global pop. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final was contested between Spain and Argentina, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second FIFA World Cup title.
Madonna opened the show with her 2000 hit Music, making a dramatic entrance alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Global titans BTS followed with an energetic performance of their global smash hit Dynamite, marking another historic milestone for the group as the first K-pop act to perform at a FIFA World Cup final half-time show. For Jungkook, it was also a return to football’s biggest stage. Four years after making history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup event with Dreamers at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, he once again took centre stage at FIFA’s biggest night.
Justin Bieber then shifted the mood with an acoustic rendition of Everything Hallelujah, before Shakira and Burna Boy joined forces for a performance of Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The collaboration brought together Latin pop and Afrobeats, celebrating the tournament’s global spirit.
Shakira’s appearance was especially significant given her enduring relationship with the World Cup. From Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) in 2010 to La La La (Brazil 2014), the Colombian superstar has delivered some of FIFA’s most memorable anthems, making her almost synonymous with football’s biggest tournament. Her return for the inaugural halftime show further cemented that legacy.
Beyond the performances, the event produced several moments that quickly resonated with fans online. Video footage of Jungkook and Justin Bieber sharing the stage spread rapidly across social media, while a backstage clip of Bieber and BTS member Kim Taehyung (V) sharing a handshake became another talking point, delighting fans of both artists.
The finale brought all the evening’s themes together. Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, a special orchestral rendition of Seven Nation Army – the stadium anthem heard at sporting events around the world – set the stage for the closing act. Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus then performed We Dance, ending the historic halftime show on an uplifting note as fireworks lit up the stadium and the performers came together for FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final musical finale.
The final itself drew an extraordinary line-up of celebrities from entertainment, sports and politics. Among those in attendance were US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, David and Victoria Beckham, Mohanlal, Serena Williams, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Will Ferrell, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Martha Stewart, Victor Wembanyama, Post Malone, Pharrell Williams, Julia Garner, Trevor Noah, Anya Taylor-Joy and Adrien Brody.
