The July 19 World Cup final in New Jersey will feature a Super Bowl–style halftime show for the first time, with headline performances by Madonna, Shakira and South Korea’s BTS. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is the show’s curator and announced the lineup in a promotional video that included characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
FIFA says the halftime event is intended to raise money for its FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, promoting the stunt with the slogan “The world’s biggest stage, an even bigger purpose.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the announcement, saying the show will combine music and football while supporting efforts to improve children’s lives globally. Martin also hinted the broadcast will include “surprises” beyond the three main acts.
Reports suggest the performance could run about 11 minutes. That raises logistical questions: a typical football halftime lasts roughly 15 minutes, used for team regrouping, analysis and, where applicable, commercial breaks. An extended musical performance may require a longer interval or reduce opportunities for broadcasters to revisit match action or air ads. By contrast, competitions such as the UEFA Champions League generally stage concerts before kickoff rather than during the brief halftime.
Halftime music is uncommon in football and has provoked controversy when tried. A notable example came in 2017, when German pop star Helene Fischer performed at the DFB-Pokal final and was loudly booed by sections of the crowd; the backlash contributed to a decision to abandon similar halftime entertainment in subsequent seasons.
FIFA describes the planned halftime show as “a singular moment at the intersection of sport, culture and purpose,” to be broadcast live around the world. Further details on the running order, exact length and any additional guest appearances have not yet been confirmed.