Madonna, Shakira and K-pop band BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show this summer.
The lineup was announced on Wednesday night, less than a month before the soccer showpiece kicks off in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The World Cup final, which will be held at New Jersey‘s MetLife Stadium on July 19, is one of the biggest events in sports. Four years ago, Argentina beat France in front of a global live TV audience of 570million.
‘The show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, improving access to quality education and football for children around the world,’ read a statement from Coldplay, whose lead singer Chris Martin curated the show.
Madonna and Shakira have both previously performed at Super Bowls but this will be the first time that the World Cup final has included a halftime show.
The announcement was made in a viral video that featured Coldplay star Martin as well as characters such as Elmo, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Animal.
Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show
Shakira is pictured performing earlier this month at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro
BTS, seen here in Mexico City, became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination
The 2026 World Cup final will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19
‘But this show is more about we than me,’ Martin said in the clip. ‘It’s about togetherness.’
The last time the World Cup came to the US, in 1994, Diana Ross headlined the opening ceremony while Whitney Houston had a 25-minute set at the closing ceremony.
The three tenors Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras also performed at Dodger Stadium during the tournament, which was won by Brazil.
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