Musical superstars Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay headlined the FIFA World Cup final’s first-ever halftime show on Sunday, joined by Brazilian football legends, Ted Lasso actors and a host of international performers in a Super Bowl-style spectacle.
The 12-minute performance also paid tribute to football icon Pelé and featured a rendition of the White Stripes’ 'Seven Nation Army', led by conductor Gustavo Dudamel with musicians from the US, Venezuela and Iran. Coldplay later teamed up with New York’s PS22 Chorus, alongside characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, in a finale supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which promotes access to education and sport for disadvantaged children.
The halftime entertainment extended the match break between Spain and Argentina to 27 minutes, prompting debate over its potential impact on players. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had predicted “a couple of billion” viewers would watch what organisers described as “the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid.”
The show opened with Madonna arriving beneath MetLife Stadium in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian greats Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before launching into Music. Her set flowed into an orchestral performance of 'Seven Nation Army', a song synonymous with football stadiums worldwide.
K-pop sensation BTS followed with a football-themed version of Dynamite, before Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt introduced Bieber, who performed a World Cup-inspired rendition of Everything Hallelujah. Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy then raised the tempo with the tournament anthem Dai Dai, accompanied by Ugandan dancers.
A moving tribute honoured Pelé, featuring archival footage from his farewell appearance at the former Giants Stadium in 1977. The Brazilian legend died in 2022.
Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the show highlighted the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to support education and sport initiatives for underprivileged children. The campaign had already exceeded $60 million before kickoff through ticket sales, corporate backing and private donations. FIFA said grants have been awarded to 58 organisations, benefiting around 400,000 children worldwide.
Before the match, Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, while Tom Cruise delivered a speech celebrating football’s power to unite people. Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson also performed. -AFP
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