World Cup final half-time show features Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber performances

By Blessing Adeyi — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

Star-studded Half-Time Performances

The World Cup final featured a half-time show with performances from pop artists including Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. The event, held at MetLife Stadium, aimed to bring a similar atmosphere to the Super Bowl. Madonna opened the show with her song “Music,” appearing from tunnels beneath the arena and later joined by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. She then rode into the stadium on a dune buggy. The half-time show spanned over 27 minutes, making it the longest in World Cup history, despite rules from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) that typically limit stoppages to 15 minutes.

Justin Bieber performed “Everything Hallelujah” with an acoustic guitar, introduced by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt in character as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard. K-Pop group BTS performed “Dynamite” after a nod to Norway’s Viking row. Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage to perform their official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai.” Shakira, known for her World Cup songs, performed barefoot in a dress of yellow and pink feathers, surrounded by dancers. The show also included a performance by the PS22 Chorus of elementary-school students from Staten Island, joined by Chris Martin, Shakira, and various Muppets and Sesame Street characters.

Pre-Match and Closing Ceremony Highlights

Before the main match, the closing ceremony featured several performances. Jennifer Hudson sang the US national anthem, accompanied by a live band. Other performers included Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Italian singer Laura Pausini, who performed together. Rapper and singer Post Malone also performed his song “Wow.” Streamer IShowSpeed took to the field first, performing his World Cup-themed song “Champions” atop an image of the Empire State Building. Tom Cruise also delivered a speech, introducing the match and highlighting football’s unifying power.

The half-time show also featured Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading an orchestra, which included musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. The Muppets house band, with drummer Animal, also contributed to the performance of “Seven Nation Army.” Celebrities observed in attendance included Kylie Jenner, Timothee Chalamet, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z. Former England player Wayne Rooney, part of the commentary team, expressed a critical view of the half-time performances.

Audience Reactions and Stadium Atmosphere

Reactions to the half-time show varied among attendees and viewers. Some found the performances underwhelming, with one viewer describing it as “cringeworthy crap.” Another comment noted that the show did not necessarily enhance the World Cup final experience or convert neutral American fans to soccer. The extended duration of the half-time show also raised concerns about potential player injuries due to muscles cooling down during inactivity.

In Buenos Aires, fans gathered to watch the final, with many experiencing broadcast delays that sometimes led to spoilers. Despite these issues, the atmosphere was lively, with fans chanting and celebrating. Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams, and Zidane were among the celebrities shown on screen during the event, none of whom were booed. After the match, Javier Bardem was seen celebrating Spain’s second World Cup win. The half-time show lasted just over 27 minutes, with approximately 11 minutes dedicated to the actual performances and the remaining time for stage setup and dismantling.

Source: bbc.com