For generations, the FIFA World Cup final has been defined by unforgettable goals, dramatic finishes and history-making performances on the pitch. This year, however, football’s biggest stage borrowed a page from another global sporting spectacle by introducing its first-ever halftime show—and it pulled together a lineup so packed with superstar talent that it felt almost impossible to believe it all fit into just 11 minutes.
While Spain and Argentina regrouped in their locker rooms with the score locked at 0-0, millions of viewers around the world were treated to a fast-paced musical celebration that moved seamlessly from pop and hip-hop to orchestral music, Latin rhythms and even a little Muppet-inspired rock.
Leading the charge was none other than Madonna, who opened the show in unmistakably larger-than-life fashion.
The Queen of Pop made her entrance cruising through the underground tunnels of New York New Jersey Stadium aboard a golf cart driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before emerging to perform a pair of songs that celebrated both her legacy and her newest chapter. She launched into an updated version of her 2000 hit “Music” before transitioning into “Danceteria,” one of the standout tracks from her recently released album Confessions II.
As Madonna exited, the energy barely had a chance to settle before the stadium transformed again.
Acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel stepped in alongside an orchestra featuring musicians from the New York Philharmonic, Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and celebrated Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi. Together, they delivered a powerful rendition of “Seven Nation Army,” the White Stripes anthem that has become one of football’s most recognizable stadium chants.
Adding an unexpected twist to the performance was none other than The Electric Mayhem, the legendary house band from The Muppets, whose appearance injected a playful dose of nostalgia into the already eclectic production.
If viewers thought the surprises had ended there, they were mistaken.
Global superstars BTS made a brief but memorable appearance, performing a snippet of their smash hit “Dynamite.” Fans were quick to celebrate the group’s short but impactful participation, especially considering they had reportedly been in Paris less than 24 hours earlier.
The pace never slowed.
One of the show’s most unexpected moments arrived when actor Jason Sudeikis appeared in character as the endlessly optimistic Coach Ted Lasso, joined by Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard. Staying completely in character, the fictional football coach delivered a locker-room-style pep talk to Justin Bieber, setting up the Canadian superstar’s performance of “Everything Hallelujah.”
The appearance marked another major live moment for Bieber following his headline-making return to the stage at Coachella earlier this year. His performance provided one of the halftime show’s quieter emotional moments before the celebration shifted gears once again.
Representing the official soundtrack of the tournament, Shakira and Burna Boy took center stage with “Dai Dai,” the FIFA World Cup’s official song. The collaboration had already debuted during the tournament’s opening festivities in Mexico City, but bringing it back for the final added a sense of continuity to a month-long celebration that blended football with music from around the globe.
Shortly before kickoff, Shakira had also shared her excitement on Instagram about welcoming Uganda’s Ghetto Kids to perform alongside her, calling attention to one of the production’s many international collaborations.
The emotional finale belonged to New York City’s beloved PS 22 Chorus, a choir made up of fourth and fifth graders from Staten Island. Performing “We Dance,” a song written by Coldplay, the students were joined by frontman Chris Martin, whose appearance brought the performance to a heartfelt close.
Then, almost as quickly as it had begun, the spectacle disappeared.
Fireworks erupted around the stadium as the final notes faded, volunteers rushed onto the field to remove the temporary stage, sprinklers resumed watering the pitch and, within minutes, the footballers returned to finish the match that had briefly paused for one of the most ambitious live productions the sport has ever attempted.
The halftime show wasn’t simply designed to entertain. It also supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand children’s access to education and football programs around the world. Organizers have already raised more than half that goal, with one dollar from every World Cup ticket sold contributing to the campaign throughout the tournament.
The final capped off several weeks of memorable musical performances across the competition.
The opening ceremony featured appearances from Future, Tyla, Lisa, Anitta, Rema, Katy Perry and young Norwegian singer Tius Luka, while Canada’s celebrations welcomed Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara and several other artists. More recently, Ellie Goulding headlined the halftime festivities during the England versus Norway quarterfinal, and the World Cup closing ceremony featured performances from Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, IShowSpeed, plus a surprise appearance by Tom Cruise, while Jennifer Hudson delivered the U.S. national anthem.
With FIFA successfully introducing a halftime show on football’s biggest stage, the tournament closed not only with a championship match but with a musical event that demonstrated just how closely sport and entertainment continue to intersect on the global stage.
