Football’s greatest stage acquired its first-ever halftime present on Sunday as Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Coldplay co-headlined an 11-minute spectacle at MetLife Stadium whereas the FIFA World Cup 2026 last between Spain and Argentina remained goalless at halftime.
The present, directed by Hamish Hamilton, additionally featured Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus. It was produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted.
Running order
Madonna opened the present, joined on stage by Brazil soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. BTS adopted, earlier than Justin Bieber took over the set. Shakira then carried out alongside Burna Boy, reprising their World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” which the pair had earlier debuted on the event’s opening ceremony. Coldplay closed out the efficiency.
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Sesame Street and Muppets characters additionally featured as a part of the present.
Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the efficiency backed the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which goals to boost $100 million to broaden entry to training and soccer for youngsters worldwide. More than $50 million had already been raised, together with $1 from each World Cup 2026 ticket offered, directed in the direction of social initiatives globally.
The present was billed because the first-ever halftime efficiency in World Cup historical past. It has drawn some criticism over issues in regards to the commercialisation of the game, significantly round breaching FIFA’s 15-minute halftime interval rule.
FIFA and Global Citizen struck a four-year partnership in September 2024 to run the halftime present, aimed toward tackling excessive poverty and widening youngsters’s entry to sport and training.
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