The 2026 FIFA World Cup got here to an in depth as we speak (July 19) after over a month of intense gameplay. However earlier than Spain beat out defending champion Argentina for the win with an extra time objective, one other main spectacle was so as: the first-ever official World Cup Halftime Present. The inaugural occasion featured performances from Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Justin Bieber, and the Muppets. (Sure, Miss Piggy donned a pink jersey.) Watch the 11-minute present in full right here.
The sport was tied 0-0 tie on the conclusion of the primary half, leaving tensions excessive at MetLife Stadium. Good factor, then, that the over 80,000 followers in attendance have been handled to considered one of nature’s nice stress-relievers: a Madonna efficiency. The pop legend kicked off the present with “Music,” the title observe of her 2000 album, as Brazilian soccer legends (and former World Cup champions) Ronaldo and Ronaldinho escorted her onto the sphere. Her transient set transitioned right into a quantity from one other iconic, one-name act: the Muppets, who laid down a canopy of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Military.” The troupe was led by Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who later led each the LAPhil and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela in an orchestral interlude.
As soon as Janice, Animal, and co. wrapped up their quantity, it was BTS time: the Okay-pop juggernauts appeared on the sphere to carry out their hit single “Dynamite.” Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt popped up in character as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard to introduce Justin Bieber who, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, carried out the SWAG observe “The whole lot Hallelujah,” altering the lyrics of the tune to “World Cup Hallelujah” to mark the second.
Subsequent up have been Shakira and Burna Boy, who gave the halftime present its denouement with a efficiency of their official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai.” For the halftime present’s large end, Chris Martin, Shakira, and the Muppets carried out “We Imagine” alongside a youngsters’s refrain, because the world “Love”—with an “O” stylized to seem like Earth—was broadcast onto the sphere.
Forward of the sport, much more artists introduced their voices to the ultimate’s opening ceremony. Jennifer Hudson delivered a rousing rendition of the Nationwide Anthem, earlier than Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini got here collectively to carry out a quantity from the 2026 FIFA World Cup soundtrack, “Need.” Publish Malone additionally took the championship subject in East Rutherford, New Jersey, donning a t-shirt studying “I Simply Hope Each Groups Have Enjoyable” to debut a brand new tune allegedly titled “Chrome Heartbreak” alongside older hits like “Wow.” He concluded his set by bringing out Swae Lee to hitch him for a efficiency of their 2018 collaboration “Sunflower.”
For all of the artists in attendance, not everybody within the music world was so sizzling on the halftime present. In an Instagram publish shared forward of the sport’s kickoff, the Treatment aired some grievances with the efficiency and FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s characterization of the present as a “groundbreaking spectacle” that may “have a good time soccer, music and our shared values, making certain a legacy that transcends the ultimate whistle.” The Treatment’s ideas, per their caption? “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.” (We should be unsure concerning the official definition of “mugwank,” however the sentiment got here by clear as day.)
