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Shakira leads first World Cup half-time show that briefly steals the spotlight

Shakira performs during the half-time show of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026.
Shakira performs during the half-time show of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026. Copyright  Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By Rafael Salido
Published on Updated
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The show extended the interval to nearly 30 minutes as FIFA sought to turn football's biggest match into a global entertainment event.

The first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final transformed the break between Spain and Argentina into a Super Bowl-style music spectacle.

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FIFA brought some of the biggest names in international music to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, extending the interval to nearly 30 minutes to accommodate the unprecedented production.

Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the show featured Shakira performing the tournament's official anthem, "Dai Dai".

Shakira performs with Uganda's Ghetto Kids dance troupe at the World Cup final in New Jersey, 19 July, 2026
Shakira performs with Uganda's Ghetto Kids dance troupe at the World Cup final in New Jersey, 19 July, 2026 AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber also took to the stage, with Bieber adapting the lyrics of his song "Everything Hallelujah" to include the line: "It's the World Cup, hallelujah."

World at their feet: Ronaldinho, left, and Ronaldo stand with Madonna as she performs during the halftime show at the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey
World at their feet: Ronaldinho, left, and Ronaldo stand with Madonna as she performs during the halftime show at the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel also appeared alongside the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, marking a rare inclusion of classical music in a show of this kind.

South Korean boy band BTS performs during the halftime show in the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey, 19 July, 2026
South Korean boy band BTS performs during the halftime show in the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey, 19 July, 2026 AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Following the model of major US sporting events, the production required an extensive pitch set-up and extended the half-time break well beyond the usual 15 minutes as determined by world football's governing body.

While the International Football Association Board (IFAB) advises against intervals of that length, the World Cup's competition regulations allowed organisers to extend the break to stage the performances, dismantle the set and prepare the pitch before play resumed.

Beyond the entertainment, FIFA said the show formed part of its partnership with Global Citizen to raise funds for education projects around the world.

The final, played in front of a capacity crowd with ticket prices reaching as much as €35,000, underscored FIFA's ambition to turn football's biggest match into a global entertainment spectacle aimed at attracting new audiences.

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