FIFA’s World Cup is finishing with a bang.
The very first internationally recognized soccer game took place in Glasgow, Scotland in 1872, featuring the teams of Scotland and England. While the first official World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and has taken place every four years since, earlier, unofficial World Cup-style tournaments existed as far back as the late 19th century. Today, the qualifying process includes over 200 teams globally, making the World Cup one of the most popular sporting events worldwide.
This year’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will make history with its first-ever halftime show. The performance will include a star-studded lineup of 17 acts, such as Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy, the Ghetto Kids, PS22, Coldplay, Gustavo Dudamel, and beloved characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street. Before the match ends, fans can also expect a 90-minute closing ceremony.
Jason Sudeikis made a cameo as Ted Lasso during a medley featuring Madonna, The Muppets, and BTS, introducing Justin Bieber. Bieber then performed an acoustic version of his song, a quieter moment compared to the earlier, more energetic performances. His song included the lyric, “It’s the World Cup, hallelujah,” which quickly went viral. Before that, Shakira and Burna Boy performed “Dai Dai,” and later, the PS22 chorus joined Coldplay for a vibrant musical collaboration.
Before the game started, Cruise gave an inspiring speech to the crowd and to viewers around the world. He concluded by saying, “This is football, this is unity, this is greatness.” The event is intended to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to provide quality education and football programs for children globally. FIFA President Gianni Infantino commented:
We’re thrilled to announce that Justin Bieber will join music icons Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as a headliner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show. This performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, helping us provide better educational and football opportunities for children globally.
According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Post Malone will headline a performance meant to honor the tournament’s progress and build excitement before the final match. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem, and Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, Tom Cruise, and IShowSpeed also performed before the game.
This World Cup has been incredibly popular, breaking numerous records. Before the tournament even started, over 150 million tickets were requested in just two weeks – an average of 10 million per day! FIFA President Infantino described the fan response as amazing and a clear sign of how much people love football.
The halftime show at the FIFA World Cup will be about 11 minutes long, and the entire halftime break is scheduled to last around 20 minutes.
2026-07-19 23:18