NEW YORK | Soccer’s biggest match is getting a halftime show built for the global entertainment age, and that changes the feel of the World Cup final before a ball is even kicked.
Associated Press reported that FIFA announced a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. The show is set to feature Madonna, Shakira and BTS, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin curating the event.
FIFA said the performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise money for education and soccer access. The announcement turns the final into something more than a championship match. It becomes a cross-platform television, music, sponsorship and culture event.
For soccer traditionalists, the idea may feel strange. A World Cup final already carries enough drama. Soccer halftime is usually short, tactical and practical. The Super Bowl, by contrast, has turned halftime into a separate entertainment product watched by people who may care as much about the show as the game.
That is exactly why FIFA is trying it. The 2026 World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the final in New Jersey places the event inside the American sports-entertainment market. FIFA is borrowing the Super Bowl language because it wants the final to reach casual viewers, sponsors and global pop audiences.
The lineup is designed for scale. Madonna brings legacy pop power. Shakira brings World Cup familiarity and international reach. BTS brings a global fan base that understands digital mobilization. Chris Martin adds festival-style curation and mainstream television polish.
The unanswered question is format. Soccer’s standard halftime is 15 minutes, leaving limited room for a production on the scale audiences associate with the Super Bowl. FIFA will have to balance spectacle with the needs of players, coaches, broadcasters and competition integrity.
The cultural shift is clear regardless of runtime. Sports properties increasingly behave like media franchises. They sell live competition, but also music, fashion, celebrity, social clips, brand partnerships and charity campaigns. The audience is no longer only the fan who watches every qualifier. It is also the viewer who arrives for the moment.
The risk is overproduction. The World Cup final must remain a soccer match first. If the halftime show complements the event, it could become a memorable global broadcast moment. If it overwhelms the match, critics will say FIFA imported the wrong part of American sports culture.
Additional Reporting By: Associated Press