Madonna, the Muppets Justin Bieber and others take the World Cup stage for star-studded halftime show
Madonna opened the World Cup halftime show with her 2000 dance-pop hit “Music,” joined by star Brazilian soccer players of yesteryear, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. It started with an apparently pre-recorded piece in a roller rink before she rode into the stadium on a dune buggy, singing “Music, makes the people come together.”
Colombian singer Shakira performs during the halftime show of the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images)
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra through the White Stripes’ sports anthem “Seven Nation Army,” while Animal and other Muppets bopped and shook.
K-pop sensations BTS took to the field in red and black moments later singing “Dynamite.”
19 July 2026, United States, East Rutherford: Soccer, Men’s, 2026 World Cup, Final, Spain vs. Argentina, New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. The South Korean K-pop band BTS will perform during the halftime show at the World Cup final. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Promoting the upcoming season of “Ted Lasso,” Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, in character, pumped up Justin Bieber, who changed the tempo with the slower “Everything Hallelujah.” Then Shakira and Burna Boy performed their anthem “Dai Dai,” heard before all 104 kickoffs in this tournament.
Chris Martin performs during the Topps Final Halftime Show in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The show wrapped with a chorus of elementary-school students from Staten Island.
Justin Bieber performs during the Topps Final Halftime Show the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
