The 2026 FIFA World Cup involves a detailed right now (July 19) after over a month of intense gameplay. However earlier than Spain and Argentina completed duking it out, one other main spectacle was so as: the first-ever official World Cup Halftime Present. The inaugural occasion featured performances from Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Justin Bieber, and the Muppets. (Sure, Miss Piggy donned a pink jersey.) Watch highlights from the 11-minute present under.
The sport was tied 0-0 tie on the conclusion of the primary half, leaving tensions excessive at MetLife Stadium. Good factor, then, that the over 80,000 followers in attendance had been handled to one among nature’s nice stress-relievers: a Madonna efficiency. The pop legend kicked off the present with “Music,” the title monitor of her 2000 album, as Brazilian soccer legends (and former World Cup champions) Ronaldo and Ronaldinho escoirted her onto the sphere. Her set transitioned right into a quantity from one other iconic, one-name act: the Muppets, who laid down a canopy of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Military.” The troupe was led by Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
As soon as Janice, Animal, and co. wrapped up their quantity, it was BTS time: the Ok-pop juggernauts appeared on the sphere to carry out their hit single “Dynamite.” Jason Sudeikis popped up in character as Ted Lasso to introduce Justin Bieber who, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, carried out the SWAG monitor “All the things Hallelujah,” altering the lyrics of the track to “World Cup Hallelujah” to mark the second.
Subsequent up had been Shakira and Burna Boy, who gave the halftime present its denoument with a efficiency of their official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai.” For the halftime present’s huge end, Chris Martin, Shakira, and the Muppets carried out “We Imagine” alongside a kids’s refrain, because the world “Love”—with an “O” stylized to seem like Earth—was broadcast onto the sphere.
Forward of the sport, much more artists introduced their voices to the ultimate’s opening ceremony. Jennifer Hudson delivered a rousing rendition of the Nationwide Anthem, earlier than Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini got here collectively to carry out a quantity from the 2026 FIFA World Cup soundtrack, “Need.” Put up Malone additionally took the championship subject in East Rutherford, New Jersey, donning a t-shirt studying “I Simply Hope Each Groups Have Enjoyable” to debut a brand new track alongside older hits like “Wow.” He additionally introduced out Swae Lee to hitch him for his or her 2018 monitor “Sunflower.”
For all of the artists in attendance, not everybody within the music world was so sizzling on the halftime present. In an Instagram submit shared forward of the sport’s kickoff, the Remedy aired some grievances with the efficiency and FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s characterization of the present as a “groundbreaking spectacle” that may “have a good time soccer, music and our shared values, guaranteeing a legacy that transcends the ultimate whistle.” The Remedy’s ideas, per their caption? “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.” (We should still be unsure concerning the official definition of “mugwank,” however the sentiment got here via clear as day.)
