Shakira and Madonna to perform at halftime of World Cup final

Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the first half-time show of the World Cup final, FIFA announced in an Instagram post.

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and is expected to attract millions of viewers around the world, in addition to the audience at the stadium itself, CNN reports.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 in Mexico City, with matches being played at multiple locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The half-time show, hosted by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will be produced by the non-profit organisation Global Citizen, with proceeds going to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, FIFA said. The fund is "a landmark initiative that aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children around the world," it said.

During the tournament, one US dollar from every ticket sold for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches will be donated to the Fund.

In a promotional video posted on social media, Martin was joined by characters from "Sesame Street" and "The Muppets," with a brief appearance by BTS.

The official rules of football, as prescribed by the International Committee of Football Associations, state that the break between two halves should not last longer than 15 minutes, so it is not yet known whether the rule will be changed to allow for a performance, similar to the halftime shows during the Super Bowl final.

Last week, FIFA announced that reggaeton star J Balvin will headline the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Mexico City. The performance will also feature Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Lily Downs...