The 2026 FIFA World Cup final took place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, where Spain defeated Argentina to win their second World Cup title [1]. For the first time in tournament history, the final featured a halftime show lasting about 11 minutes, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin [2, 3, 4].

The halftime break extended to approximately 27 minutes, nearly doubling the traditional 15-minute football interval, a change that drew some criticism and debate over compliance with official rules [3, 5, 6]. Some contend the extended break exceeded International Football Association regulations, while others note tournament rules do not explicitly prohibit a longer halftime [3, 5].

The show included performances by Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Coldplay, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus, attracting a global audience [2, 3, 7, 8]. Madonna opened with "Music," entering the stadium in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho [3, 5, 8]. BTS performed "Dynamite" wearing black-and-red outfits, and Justin Bieber sang "Everything Hallelujah," altering the closing line to "World Cup Hallelujah" [3, 5]. Shakira and Burna Boy performed "Dai Dai," the official 2026 World Cup song [2, 3, 5, 7].

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said they were proud to have artists like Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS co-headline the halftime show to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand youth education worldwide [7]. Bieber echoed this purpose, saying, "The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can... I’m grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world." [7]

Pre-match entertainment featured streamer IShowSpeed, Post Malone, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, and a speech from Tom Cruise [2, 9, 10]. Pausini said performing with Williams gave her "goosebumps everywhere" [2]. About 80,000 fans, celebrities, and dignitaries attended the final [2, 8], and global TV viewership for the match was estimated between 1.5 and 1.8 billion viewers [11].

US President Donald Trump made an appearance at the final, arriving by helicopter and viewing the trophy during the first half [1, 9]. The tournament was jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada [1, 7].

The halftime show sparked some debate over its American-style entertainment format and lengthy duration. Tiffany Naiman of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Center described it as "importing an American made-for-TV sensibility" to the global game [4]. However, FIFA and organizers framed the show as a unifying global event that advances education more than pure spectacle [7, 10].

The next major FIFA event is expected to continue evolving entertainment elements while maintaining the tournament's competitive spirit.