Football’s biggest match is about to borrow a page from the Super Bowl playbook. FIFA has confirmed the full entertainment lineup for Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, and for the first time in the tournament’s near-century of history, the championship match will feature a halftime show. Co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber, the spectacle promises to make July 19 as memorable for music fans as for the millions tuning in to see Spain chase their second world title.
A Closing Ceremony Fit for a Blockbuster
The festivities begin long before kickoff. The official closing ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. ET, exactly 90 minutes before the final gets underway in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and internet phenomenon IShowSpeed lead the performer list, while Hollywood star Tom Cruise is set to make a special appearance. Jennifer Hudson will then deliver a rendition of the United States national anthem before the teams walk out.
It is a lineup built to reflect the tournament itself: global, star-studded and unapologetically bigger than anything that came before it. The 2026 World Cup has already smashed attendance records across its 16 host cities, and FIFA clearly intends the finale to match the scale of the six weeks that preceded it.
The First Halftime Show in World Cup History
The genuine novelty arrives at the interval. Produced in partnership with Global Citizen, the halftime show breaks with a tradition that has always kept the final’s intermission strictly functional. Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Bieber share co-headline billing, with Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus performing alongside Coldplay rounding out the bill. In a family-friendly flourish, characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets will also feature.
Shakira’s presence carries obvious World Cup resonance. Her 2010 anthem Waka Waka remains the tournament’s most recognizable song, and her return to football’s biggest stage nearly two decades later bridges eras in much the same way the tournament’s new 48-team format has bridged continents. For BTS, the appearance marks another milestone in the group’s global reach, while Madonna and Bieber give the show generational spread that echoes the Super Bowl formula FIFA is openly chasing.
Spain Await Their Opponent
On the pitch, only one question remains. Spain booked their place in the final with a commanding semifinal victory over France in Arlington, and La Roja will meet the winner of Wednesday’s England versus Argentina semifinal in Atlanta. Whoever emerges, the final promises a compelling clash of footballing cultures beneath the fireworks.
The stage could hardly be grander. As MetLife Stadium readies itself for the decider, ticket demand has reached historic levels, and the addition of a halftime spectacle will only intensify the scramble. More than 82,000 fans will pack the stands, with a global audience expected to number in the billions.
Sport Meets Showbiz
Purists may grumble that a halftime show interrupts the rhythm of a final, and the length of the interval has already prompted questions about how players will manage the extended break. FIFA has yet to confirm exactly how long the intermission will run, though reports suggest it will stretch beyond the standard 15 minutes to accommodate the production.
What is beyond dispute is the statement of intent. The United States has spent this summer proving it can host football on an unprecedented scale, and Sunday’s fusion of sport and entertainment is the natural crescendo. A tournament that opened with record crowds and delivered one of the great semifinal performances will close with the biggest names in music sharing a bill with the biggest match in sport. Whether the football lives up to the show around it is now the only unknown left in this World Cup.
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