Madonna's appearance at the 2026 Fifa World Cup final halftime show adds another layer of star power to an already historic event.
Image: Facebook/Madonna
The Fifa World Cup final is about to make history.
For the first time ever, football's biggest match will feature a halftime show inspired by the Super Bowl, turning an already massive sporting event into a global entertainment spectacle.
The show will take place on Sunday, July 19, during the Fifa World Cup final and is expected to attract more than 1 billion viewers worldwide.
Whether you are tuning in for the football, the music or both, this is one event you will not want to miss.
Leading the line-up are three of the biggest names in music.
Madonna will bring decades of chart-topping hits to the stage, while Shakira returns to the World Cup spotlight after performing her new tournament anthem, "Dai Dai", at the opening ceremony.
Joining them is BTS, the South Korean pop phenomenon whose worldwide fan base is expected to add even more excitement to the occasion.
Helping shape the production is Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who is overseeing the show's creative direction and artist line-up.
The entertainment will not stop with music. Beloved characters from “The Muppets” and “Sesame Street”, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Kermit and Miss Piggy, are set to make appearances as part of a campaign promoting global education.
Ugandan dance sensation The Ghetto Kids will also join the festivities, performing alongside Shakira.
The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will be branded as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
For South African viewers, the kickoff is scheduled for 9pm. The halftime show is expected to air between 10pm and 10.20pm, depending on stoppage time in the first half.
Unlike the NFL, football has a shorter halftime break, so Fifa is planning a tightly choreographed performance lasting around 11 minutes.
Organisers are exploring ways to protect the pitch, including using stages built into the stadium stands or structures that can be quickly assembled and removed.
The show also carries a bigger purpose.
Produced with Global Citizen, it will launch the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million for education programmes and youth football opportunities around the world.
One dollar from every World Cup ticket sold will go towards the fund.
Football fever is already building, and now the final promises music, dancing and a moment unlike anything the World Cup has seen before.