The 2026 FIFA World Cup final took place on July 20, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to claim their second World Cup title [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. For the first time in World Cup history, a halftime show was introduced at the final, modeled after the American Super Bowl halftime spectacle [1, 6, 2, 3, 4].
The halftime show lasted about 11 to 12 minutes within the 17-minute halftime regulated by FIFA, which reserved about six minutes for stage setup and teardown to avoid excessive interruption of the game [1, 6, 2, 3, 4, 7]. The star-studded performance featured Madonna opening with her hit "Music" and also performing "Hey Mr DJ" [1, 6, 3, 7]. BTS followed with a high-energy rendition of "Dynamite" wearing coordinated red outfits, igniting strong fan reactions across social media [1, 2, 3, 7].
Justin Bieber provided a guitar-accompanied acoustic set of "Everything Hallelujah," altering the final line to "World Cup Hallelujah." His performance received mixed reviews online, with some calling it "lazy" or "lacking highlights," though insiders said the stripped-down style was intentional to avoid risks and keep focus on the music [6, 3, 8, 9, 10, 7].
Shakira closed the program with Burna Boy, performing the official World Cup theme song "Dai Dai" with an energetic collaboration [6, 3, 7]. The halftime also included orchestral performances led by conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a set by The Muppets band, highlighting diverse musical elements [3, 7].
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin served as the creative director and musical lead for the halftime show [1, 2, 8]. Behind the scenes, reports surfaced of tensions between Madonna and Bieber over creative control, with Madonna advocating for a spectacular, memorable show while Bieber preferred a controlled, low-risk approach [8, 9, 10]. One anonymous source said Bieber's philosophy was "not to complicate things, not to take unnecessary risks, and not to let the performance become news for the wrong reasons [8]."
Before kickoff, Hollywood star Tom Cruise delivered an inspirational speech celebrating football’s power to unite people globally. He said, "Football belongs to everyone. In the three host countries and every corner of the world, we witnessed greatness, shared joy and hope, and treasured unforgettable moments. Football is a language beyond words that brings strangers together as friends" [11, 12, 7, 5].
Spain secured victory with a decisive goal after extra time, wrapping the tournament and the eventful day marked by the historic halftime show [4, 5].
