Madonna, Shakira and BTS to headline World Cup half-time show

Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the half-time show at the final in New Jersey.

By Lorraine McKenna, BBC Sport Journalist

Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop group BTS are set to co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show during this year's World Cup final.

This prestigious event will take place on July 19, 2026, in New Jersey, as part of a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The scheduled duration of the performance is 11 minutes.

While pre-match performances have become a staple at major events like the Champions League final, this marks the inaugural half-time show at a World Cup final.

Colombian pop sensation Shakira is preparing to debut her official World Cup song titled "Dai Dai," meaning "let's go" in Italian, which features Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The release is scheduled for Thursday.

The 49-year-old artist, known for her hit "Hips Don't Lie," previously contributed to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with her song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)."

Revered as the “Queen of Pop,” Madonna holds the title of the best-selling female music artist in history and is set to launch her 15th album, "Confessions II," on July 3.

In April, the 67-year-old made a surprise appearance at the Coachella music festival, joining Sabrina Carpenter for a duet of "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer."

BTS, consisting of seven members, is the top-selling music act in South Korean history with over 45 million albums sold. They achieved a UK number three hit with Coldplay for the song "My Universe" in 2021.

During their performance at the final, BTS will be in the midst of an 85-date world tour, following a three-year break due to mandatory military service obligations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked in March that the half-time show "will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world."

Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, the half-time show aims to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative committed to generating $100 million (£73 million) for children's education worldwide.