The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature a major half-time entertainment show for the first time in the tournament’s history, as organisers prepare for a global spectacle at the championship match in New Jersey on 19 July.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to reports, the half-time performance is expected to last around 11 minutes, although earlier speculation suggested it could run beyond the traditional 15-minute interval allowed under football regulations.
Last year’s Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain featured a half-time show that lasted more than 24 minutes.
While pre-match entertainment has become common at major football events such as the UEFA Champions League final, this will mark the first official half-time show ever staged during a FIFA World Cup final.
Among the artists linked to the event is Colombian singer Shakira, who is releasing the official World Cup song Dai Dai alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy.
The phrase “Dai Dai” is an Italian expression meaning “let’s go” or “come on.”
Shakira previously performed the hugely successful World Cup anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Music icon Madonna is also expected to take part in the event. The global pop legend is preparing to release her upcoming album Confessions II in July.
Earlier this year, Madonna made a surprise appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s performance at the Coachella music festival, where they performed songs including Vogue and Like A Prayer together.
South Korean music group BTS is also expected to perform at the final. The group remains the best-selling music act in South Korean history, with more than 45 million albums sold worldwide.
BTS recently resumed activities after completing mandatory military service and are currently preparing for a large international tour.
The group previously collaborated with British band Coldplay on the hit song My Universe.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the upcoming show as a “historic moment” worthy of the world’s biggest football event.
The performance is being curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and is also expected to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The initiative aims to raise $100 million to support educational projects for children around the world.
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