The 2026 World Cup final will feature its first-ever halftime show, a star‑studded 11‑minute performance curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin that includes Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, the Muppets, and orchestras from New York and Venezuela, among others. Broadcast in the U.S. on Fox, Telemundo, Peacock and the Fox Sports app, the spectacle aims to boost FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which is targeting $100 million for youth education and soccer access. FIFA touts record viewership—over 20 billion video views worldwide so far—far surpassing Super Bowl numbers, as soccer climbs to become America’s third‑most‑favored sport. The halftime show mirrors the NFL’s entertainment playbook, offering a global, viral‑ready diversion to keep audiences glued to the match.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/17/nx-s1-5897510/bts-bieber-madonna-shakira-world-cup-halftime-show