A historic show in the final

The 2026 World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) not only crowned a new champion but also marked the debut of the first halftime show in a World Cup. With Shakira, Madonna, and BTS as the main acts and curated by Chris Martin, the lead of Coldplay, the 11-minute show became a cultural milestone that blended football and music before a global audience.

How much did the stars charge?

The question that many asked had an unexpected answer, the artists did not receive any payment. Following the Super Bowl model, they decided to donate their time and talent to the organization Global Citizen, with the aim of supporting the Global Citizen Education Fund. FIFA highlighted that the initiative aims to expand access to education and football opportunities for children around the world. "Madonna, Shakira, and BTS are global icons whose music transcends borders and generations... it will be a celebration of football, unity, and shared humanity," stated President Gianni Infantino.

Global impact and solidarity legacy

The scale of the event was monumental, with numbers still to be confirmed, but this final is expected to have surpassed the 2022 final between Argentina and France, which had gathered 1.42 billion viewers. Unlike the 2025 Club World Cup, criticized for exceeding the 15-minute regulation, this time the duration was adjusted to not disrupt the pace of the match. Beyond the sporting result, the 2026 final will be remembered as the day when three superstars demonstrated that music and football can come together not only to entertain but also to promote causes that transcend the pitch.

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