World Cup final to feature star-studded halftime and closing ceremonies
Star-studded performances set for World Cup final
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final, scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, will feature an array of musical and entertainment acts. The event, which will see Spain and Argentina compete for the title, is set to include performances from artists such as Madonna, Burna Boy, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS during the halftime show. Additionally, the closing ceremony will feature appearances by Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jennifer Hudson.
This year’s tournament has been notable for its expanded format, with over 100 matches played across three countries. The final match is expected to draw 80,000 fans to the stadium and billions of viewers globally. US President Donald Trump is also expected to be in attendance.
Historic halftime show
For the first time in its history, dating back to 1930, a FIFA World Cup final will incorporate a halftime show. This 11-minute performance is anticipated to be a significant entertainment event, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino describing it as the “biggest in the world.” The show will feature a collaboration between Madonna, Justin Bieber, K-pop megagroup BTS, and Shakira. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the entire show, which will also include Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a New York chorus.
The halftime show is expected to extend beyond the usual 15-minute match break, similar to the Club World Cup final held previously at the same stadium, where the break lasted over 24 minutes. The event aims to raise funds for an education initiative led by FIFA and the non-governmental organisation Global Citizen.
Shakira and Burna Boy, whose song “Dai Dai” is the official song of the tournament, are central to the halftime performance. They previously performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their performance at the final will again feature the Ugandan Ghetto Kids, who were also part of the opening ceremony. Shakira extended an invitation to the Ghetto Kids to participate in the official video for the song and in the opening ceremony performance.
The song “Dai Dai,” released on May 15, 2026, blends Latin pop and Afrobeats, celebrating cultural diversity and global unity. It has achieved significant success, reaching No. 1 on Spotify’s Global chart and becoming one of the tournament’s biggest songs. Proceeds from the track support the FIFA–Global Citizen Education Fund. This marks Shakira’s fourth official FIFA World Cup song, making her the artist with the most official World Cup songs in history, following “Hips Don’t Lie” (2006), “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (2010), and “La La La (Brazil 2014).” It is also the first collaboration between Shakira and Burna Boy, bringing together Afrobeats and Latin music on a global stage.
Pre-game and closing ceremonies
The pre-game closing ceremony will feature Tom Cruise, who is expected to make a “special appearance” at 1:30 pm (1730 GMT). His involvement follows a previous stunt at the Olympic closing ceremony at the Stade de France in 2024, where he abseiled from the roof. Other performers in the pre-game ceremony include British pop star Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will sing the US national anthem. American rapper-singer Post Malone and streamer IShowSpeed are also expected to be present.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has introduced new adjustments, such as hydration breaks during both halves of matches. While FIFA states these breaks are to ensure player hydration and fitness, some critics suggest they also accommodate additional advertising.
Artists performing at the World Cup halftime show do not receive a fixed payment. Instead, the organisers cover production and logistics costs. The primary benefit for these artists is global exposure, which can lead to increased earnings from sales, streaming, and other revenue streams. They also receive a small stipend during rehearsals for the show, which is similar to the operational model of the Super Bowl halftime show. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Read Also
Source: channelstv.com
