BTS, Shakira, and Madonna have been announced as the headliners for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Global Citizen posted a video featuring Sesame Street’s Elmo talking to Coldplay’s Chris Martin about the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) hosting its first-ever halftime show, which would raise money for Global Citizen’s children’s education fund. Martin was tasked with curating the show and asked Elmo for help finding headliners.
Elmo seems to have all the contacts – calling up BTS and Shakira in the middle of the video. Elmo suggested Madonna, with Cookie Monster suggesting the South Korean group because of his love for “Butter” – both the song and the product, which is needed to make cookies. BTS members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook popped up on Elmo’s screen, telling the little red monster and Martin that they’ll be there.
The boys are currently on their BTS World Tour ARIRANG, which began in early April in South Korea. With 82 shows across 34 cities, the group heads to Stanford, Northern California, this weekend before four nights in Las Vegas, then back to Korea for their Busan concerts. They then go on their UK/European and U.S. legs of the tour before finishing up in Asia, expected to end in March of next year.
The call to BTS was made when the members were in Mexico City, around the time they met with the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. The group was wearing the exact same clothes they wore while on the National Palace balcony.
Shakira was mentioned by Animal, as she was already set to appear at the World Cup, which will be hosted by North America – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Her song, “Dai Dai,” has been announced as the official 2026 World Cup song with Burna Boy. This would be Shakira’s second song as part of the World Cup. “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) was the official song for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The Colombian megastar starts her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour 2026 dates in June, with July 14 and July 20 in New Jersey and New York, respectively, which is just in time for her to perform at the World Cup final.
Madonna is set to release her album, Confessions II, on July 3. It is a sequel to her 2005 album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. She debuted her lead single, “Bring Your Love,” during Weekend 2 of this year’s Coachella in a duet with Sabrina Carpenter.
Global Citizen and Martin are working to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for youth worldwide. They’ve already raised about $30 million from World Cup match ticket sales, with the organization donating $1 per ticket sold. Last year, Martin and the international education and advocacy organization teamed up for the Club World Cup final halftime show, which had Doja Cat, J Balvin, and Tems.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies set to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, each host country will present its own grand performance and celebration. Mexico will kick things off on June 11 (with Latin Music’s finest: Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla), followed by Toronto the next day on June 12. Canada features beloved Canadian artists Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Revez, Michael Buble, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream, and William Prince. Los Angeles will kick off their opening finale at SoFi Stadium with global stars Anitta, Future, Katy Perry, LISA, Rema, and Tyla as headliners.
