In brief
The 2026 World Cup final began as a sporting contest but quickly turned into a global pop showcase. 26‑minute, record‑long half‑time routine saw icons Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber light up the stage. Madonna’s “Music” and Shakira’s “Dai Dai” already charted worldwide, while BTS returned from a three‑year hiatus. Other performers added to the energy – Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, Tom Cruise, and even the Muppets. The show sparked both euphoria and criticism over its length, with some fans calling it excessive.
The 2026 World Cup final kicked off in New York‐N.J., but the crowd’s attention quickly shifted from the pitch to the arena’s pulsating lights and music. A record‑length 26‑minute half‑time performance lifted the stadium to another level of spectacle.
Madonna took the stage first, belting out her chart‑top single “Music” with a backdrop of Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Her presence, almost theatrically emerging from tunnel lighting, set the tone for an unprecedented pop showcase.
Just then, Shakira erupted in a riot of colour, dancing in a sweeping pink‑yellow‑orange‑red outfit while back‑up dancers chimed in. She was joined by Nigerian superstar Burna Boy for a vibrant rendition of “Dai Dai,” a track that has already become a stadium anthem worldwide.
BTS, celebrating the renewal of their mandatory service duties, shared the stage to deliver an energetic kart‑style beat, energizing the crowd with their signature hyper‑hip hop beats. Their comeback after a three‑year break added an extra layer of excitement.
Justin Bieber, holding a guitar, headlined a brief solo that brought a laid‑back, contemporary feel to the set. The artist’s relaxed style clashed – and blended – with the toe‑shifting energy of the other performers.
The set also included a couple of surprise collaborations – Post Malone paired with rapper Swae Lee for a pop‑rap number, and Jennifer Hudson sang the U.S. national anthem with a full live band, before Tom Cruise stepped onto the stage to deliver an iconic speech about football’s global power.
While the half‑time segment delighted many fans and turned on social media feeds worldwide, some critics condemned the extended duration. FIFA’s IFA rules allow a maximum 15‑minute break, leaving officials debating the fairness of the extended show.
Despite the controversy, the set remains a memorable landmark for the World Cup – the first time the final has combined four pop icons and a global music‑supergroup into a single lookout that rivaled the Super‑Bowl scoreboards in drama.
