GoKawiilK-pop stars BTS are among the performers scheduled to hit the stage at halftime during FIFA’s World Cup final. Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
After more than a month of near-daily soccer matches between 48 of the world’s best national teams, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost over. The tournament will end on Sunday, July 19, with a championship final between Spain and Argentina, but soccer won’t be the only thing on the schedule that day.
This year, for the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show with several of the world’s biggest musicians, including Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, Gustavo Dudamel, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Justin Bieber. (Why should the Super Bowl get to be the only major sporting event with a massive spectacle between halves?)
The halftime show is not just a celebrity-filled concert; it’s also a fundraiser to support and bring awareness to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide. While the show is scheduled, naturally, during halftime at the final, it’s not the same as the FIFA World Cup Final Closing Ceremony, which is also a celebrity-filled event. That will take place just before the match, at 1:30 p.m. ET, and will include performances from Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams and an appearance from Tom Cruise. (Will he skydive into the stadium like he did during the 2024 Olympics? Remains to be seen.)
Here’s everything you need to know about all the halftime show performances and how to watch all the festivities before and during the 2026 World Cup final.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (better known as MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ) during the match between Spain and Argentina.
The game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, so you can plan to watch the halftime show at approximately 4 p.m. ET, though it could start a little earlier or later than that, depending on stoppage time and stage setup.
Who’s performing at the World Cup 2026 final halftime show?
The star-studded halftime show at the World Cup final will feature Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and K-Pop supergroup BTS.
... continue reading