World Cup Final Debuts First-Ever Halftime Show with Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber

For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show during the championship match. The inaugural performance is set for Sunday, July 19, during the final between defending champion Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium — the FIFA-designated name for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

A Star-Studded Lineup Curated by Chris Martin

Four of the biggest names in global music will co-headline the event: Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS. The performance was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who also helped assemble a supporting cast that includes Nigerian artist Burna Boy, renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and New York's PS 22 Chorus performing alongside Coldplay themselves.

The combination of pop superstars, classical music leadership and a community children's chorus signals FIFA's ambition to make the halftime show a marquee entertainment event comparable to the NFL's Super Bowl spectacle, which has become one of the most-watched musical performances worldwide each year.

How to Stream the Halftime Show Live

The World Cup final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, meaning the halftime show will likely begin sometime after 4 p.m., depending on stoppage time and the flow of the match. In the United States, Fox holds the English-language broadcast rights for the tournament, and viewers can tune in through any live TV streaming service that carries the network.

Cord-cutters have several options for accessing Fox, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. Each platform carries Fox as part of its channel lineup, allowing subscribers to watch both the championship match and the halftime performance in real time.

For Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo will broadcast the match and halftime show on television, while Peacock — which holds the tournament's Spanish-language streaming rights in the U.S. — will stream the event live online. This gives viewers flexibility to choose their preferred language and viewing platform.

A Performance Tied to a Global Cause

The halftime show is being produced in partnership with Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization focused on ending extreme poverty. The performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that aims to raise $100 million to expand access to both education and soccer programs for children around the world.

By tying the entertainment spectacle to a philanthropic mission, FIFA and Global Citizen hope to leverage the massive global audience of the World Cup final to drive awareness and funding toward educational equity. The fund's dual focus on schooling and youth soccer reflects the tournament's broader effort to connect the sport with community development.

The Road to the Final

Argentina enters the final as the defending champion after edging England 2-1 in the semifinals. Spain secured its place in the championship match with a 2-0 victory over France, setting up a showdown between two of international football's most storied programs.

The match at MetLife Stadium represents the culmination of the expanded World Cup tournament, and the addition of a halftime show — long a staple of American football's championship game but unprecedented in soccer's premier event — adds a new layer of spectacle to the occasion. With a global audience expected to tune in for both the athletic competition and the musical performances, the event could mark a turning point in how FIFA integrates entertainment into its showcase event.

Whether you're tuning in for the football, the music or the cause, this year's World Cup final promises something for everyone. If you found this guide helpful, share it with friends and family so they don't miss the historic first halftime show — and let us know which performance you're most excited to see.

Source: Variety