Madonna, Shakira and K-pop band BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show this summer.
The lineup was announced on Wednesday night, less than a month before the soccer showpiece kicks off in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The World Cup final, which will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19, is one of the most-watched events in television.
Four years ago, FIFA claims Argentina beat France in front of a global audience of 1.42billion.
‘The show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, improving access to quality education and football for children around the world,’ read a statement from Coldplay, whose lead singer Chris Martin curated the show.
Madonna and Shakira have both previously performed at Super Bowls but this will be the first time that the World Cup final has included a halftime show.
Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show
Shakira is pictured performing earlier this month at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro
The 2026 World Cup final will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19
South Korea’s BTS became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination
The announcement was made in a viral video on Wednesday night that included Coldplay’s Chris Martin as well as Jim Henson characters such as Elmo, Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Animal.
‘But this show is more about we than me,’ Martin said in the clip. ‘I mean, it’s about togetherness.’
The last time the World Cup was in the US, Diana Ross headlined the opening ceremony, while Whitney Houston had a 25-minute set at the closing ceremony.
The three tenors Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and José Carreras also performed at Dodger Stadium during the tournament, which was won by Brazil.
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