The 2026 World Cup final will stage the Fifa tournament’s first half-time show – Super Bowl-style – midway through the match on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
World Cup finals usually feature closing ceremonies before kick-off rather than major mid-match performances.
The previous final in Qatar had a prematch ceremony titled A Night to Remember featuring Davido, Jungkook and Ozuna in 2022, while the 2018 final in Russia featured Will Smith, Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi performing before kick-off.
The year's tournament is aiming for a Super Bowl-style half-time show and, to help achieve that ambition, Fifa has enlisted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as curator, marking an intriguing crossover between football and pop culture.
Here is what we know about the anticipated event.
What time will the half-time show start in the UAE?
The World Cup final officially kicks off at 3pm local time, which is 11pm in the UAE. The half-time show should take place here at about midnight, depending on any added time in the first half.
The performance is expected to run for 11 minutes.
Who is on the World Cup final half-time show bill?
Pop star Justin Bieber is the latest addition to the star-studded bill, joining Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Burna Boy.
Shakira and Burna Boy have already appeared during the tournament, performing at the opening ceremony on June 11.
Also on the bill is Venezuelan classical music star Gustavo Dudamel, who is the conductor of the New York Philharmonic.
Intriguingly, PS22 Chorus, the hometown Staten Island school choir from New York, has also been added to the line-up to perform alongside Coldplay.
Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also reportedly appear, tying into the show’s wider education theme and its connection to the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund.
What songs could be played?
No set list has been announced for the event and, judging by the opening ceremonies in the US, Mexico and Canada – which packed many stars into limited slots – chances are we should expect snippets rather than full performances.
There is a high chance that Dai Dai will be performed again, as it is the official tournament song by Colombian star Shakira and Nigeria’s Burna Boy. Given the song received a muted reception at the ceremony in Mexico, perhaps Shakira may bring back Waka Waka, her song for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that became a blockbuster hit.
Beyond that, the production has limited time to fit four co-headliners, a guest artist, a conductor, a choir, Coldplay and children’s television characters. Full-length songs are unlikely and a rapid medley would make more sense.
How do Madonna, BTS and Bieber fit the occasion?
Madonna’s inclusion is not merely a star-power grab.
Her new nostalgic album, Confessions II, was released this month and includes songs reflecting on her career rise in New York, the city she moved to in 1978 as a 20-year-old chasing a music career.
Do not necessarily expect a greatest-hits set, however. Fifa loves to promote its own music ecosystem, so Madonna could instead appear with Colombian singer Feid to perform Read My Lips, released as part of the bonus edition of the official Fifa World Cup 2026 Album.
Meanwhile, BTS will hit the global stage as part of their reunion after fulfilling South Korea’s military enlistment requirements. It will be interesting to see whether their appearance will showcase new comeback material or if they will come together with Coldplay for a performance of the 2021 joint hit My Universe.
As arguably Canada’s most successful pop music export, Justin Bieber – fresh from headlining April's Coachella festival in the US – is an obvious representative for one of the three host nations.
The PS22 Chorus, meanwhile, first made a major online impression in 2009 with viral performances of Coldplay songs, including Viva La Vida. In 2023, they also serenaded Chris Martin on Zoom after winning an online competition.
Where can UAE viewers watch the final and half-time show?
In the UAE and wider Mena region, the World Cup is being streamed on Tod by beIN. The final kicks off at 11pm UAE time.
