World Cup Final Halftime Extravaganza
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium featured a historic first-ever halftime show, showcasing a lineup of global music stars. The event took place on Sunday, July 19, during the match between Spain and Argentina. This marked a new approach for the tournament, with live performances scheduled both before kickoff and during the interval.
The halftime show itself was an 11-minute mega-mix performance. Among the headliners were BTS, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Shakira. They were joined by other notable artists including Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel of the New York Philharmonic, and The Muppets. Actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt also made an appearance, portraying their characters from Ted Lasso.
The K-pop group BTS, consisting of members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, performed their 2020 hit “Dynamite.” Jung Kook, the youngest member, initiated BTS‘s segment following a tribute to Norway’s viking row celebration. The group modified the song’s lyrics to incorporate football themes, with lines such as “King Kong, kick the ball” and “Ding-dong, call me on my phone / Ice tea, and a game of football,” the latter sung by V, whose real name is Taehyung Kim, who mimed kicking a ball during his delivery.
The halftime show was produced by Global Citizen, with programming curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. This initiative supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to enhance educational access for children. Each ticket purchased throughout the World Cup contributed $1 to this fund. Justin Bieber expressed gratitude for being part of the show and its contribution to expanding education.
Pre-Match and Halftime Logistics
The World Cup final match was scheduled to kick off at 3 pm local time in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The closing ceremony, which preceded the match, began at 1:30 pm local time. Jennifer Hudson performed the United States national anthem before kickoff. The ceremony celebrated the 48 teams that participated in the tournament across the three host countries and 16 host cities.
The halftime show was expected to begin shortly after 3:45 pm local time, depending on stoppage time. While the performance itself was approximately 11 minutes, reports suggested the interval could be extended beyond the standard 15 minutes to between 20 and 25 minutes. This extended break would allow for the installation and removal of the stage directly on the pitch, a design chosen for quick assembly and dismantling.
This concept of an extended halftime show was tested during last year’s Club World Cup final, also held at MetLife Stadium. During that event, the performance took place on a stage above the stands, and the interval lasted just over 24 minutes. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game typically limit halftime to 15 minutes, but competition rules can permit longer intervals with referee approval.
The closing ceremony featured a diverse group of performers. American rapper-singer Post Malone headlined the ceremony, joined by Italian singer Laura Pausini, American singer Nicole Scherzinger, British pop star Robbie Williams, and YouTube creator IShowSpeed. Additionally, actor Tom Cruise was set to make a special appearance. The ceremony, produced by Balich Wonder Studio, aimed to highlight the tournament’s defining moments and the global appeal of football.
BTS’s Busy Year
The performance at the World Cup final was part of a busy year for BTS. All seven members returned to group activities last year following mandatory military enlistment in their home country of South Korea. They released a new album, Arirang, in March.
The group is currently on a large-scale world tour in support of Arirang. They paused their sold-out shows in Las Vegas in May to attend the American Music Awards, where they won three awards. BTS is scheduled to return to Las Vegas for the iHeartRadio Music Festival in September. The K-pop group will also perform two sold-out shows at MetLife Stadium on August 1 and August 2.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com