World Cup Final Turns Into a Global Music Spectacle
News Desk
East Rutherford: The FIFA World Cup 2026 final transformed into a global entertainment extravaganza as some of the world’s biggest music stars lit up the stadium with a star-studded half-time show that rivaled the drama on the pitch.
Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber headlined the first full-scale World Cup final half-time concert, performing before tens of thousands of fans at New York New Jersey Stadium. The show lasted 27 minutes and 22 seconds, making it the longest half-time performance in FIFA World Cup history.
Madonna opened her set with her iconic hit *Music*, emerging dramatically from beneath the stadium, while Colombian superstar Shakira reunited with Nigerian singer Burna Boy after the pair had performed together at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City.
K-pop sensation BTS also marked another milestone in their long-awaited comeback following a three-year hiatus during which members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
The football spectacle drew a host of international celebrities to the stands, including Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, adding Hollywood glamour to football’s biggest night.
The entertainment began even before kick-off with an elaborate closing ceremony featuring streamer IShowSpeed, Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of the U.S. national anthem, and performances by Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and Post Malone.
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise then welcomed fans to the final, describing football as “a language spoken without words” that brings people together across cultures and borders.
While many fans celebrated FIFA’s embrace of a Super Bowl-style entertainment format, the extended half-time show divided opinion. Former England captain Wayne Rooney, working as a television pundit, dismissed the performances, saying: “I like a lot of those artists, but I thought it was crap.”
The unprecedented entertainment showcase underscored FIFA’s ambition to turn the World Cup final into not only the world’s biggest sporting event but also one of its largest live entertainment productions.
