Shakira, Madonna and BTS co-headline first-ever World Cup Closing halftime present

The world’s largest sporting occasion, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is only a few weeks away, returning to North America and the US for the primary time since 1994. 

FIFA introduced their first ever halftime present for the World Cup Closing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In a publish on X, that includes Elmo, Coldplay introduced that the halftime present could be curated by lead singer Chris Martin and have BTS, Madonna and Shakira. Shakira is about to launch the official track of the World Cup, “Dai Dai,” later Thursday.

The present may also “increase funds for the FIFA International Citizen Training Fund,” devoted to “bettering entry to high quality schooling and soccer for youngsters around the globe.”

FOX broadcasts your complete event, with opening matches kicking off on June 11 in Mexico. El Tri hosts South Africa in Mexico Metropolis, whereas South Korea takes on Croatia in Guadalajara.

(L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS attends the sixty fourth Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment on April 03, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Then the following day, the opposite two hosts play their first group stage matches. Canada performs Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto in Group B. Then the US Males’s Nationwide Staff, coming off a rocky previous few months of friendlies, performs its first match towards Paraguay in Los Angeles. They then head to Seattle to play Australia on June 19, earlier than closing out the group stage towards Turkey again in LA on June 25.

Unsurprisingly, given the dimensions and scope of the event, and the stage internet hosting within the US provides, FIFA is pulling out all of the leisure stops.

KATY PERRY TO HEADLINE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP OPENING CEREMONY AS FANS DEBATE WHETHER SHE’S THE RIGHT PICK

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed exterior the White Home in Washington, D.C., forward of the FIFA World Cup Draw on Dec. 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA)

Already, soccer’s governing physique has arrange an in depth listing of leisure to kick off the event within the host nations. A gap ceremony in Los Angeles on June 12 will characteristic music acts like Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla. 

“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will turn out to be,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino mentioned in an announcement. “The lineup of artists displays the cultural range of the US and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s wealthy affect on music, leisure and popular culture, whereas showcasing the ability of music to convey individuals collectively throughout the nation.”

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is one among 16 stadiums chosen to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, together with 11 within the U.S. (Getty Pictures)

That ceremony will kick off 90 minutes earlier than the beginning of the US match, and can complement two further opening ceremonies in Canada and Mexico. The opening match in Toronto will characteristic performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.

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In Mexico, opening ceremony headliners embody Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.

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Shakira performs on the 2025 Suenos Music Competition on Might 24, 2025, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)

Prior performers at World Cup finals embody stars like Carlos Santana and Wycleaf Jean on the 2014 event in Brazil. Will Smith was amongst those that sang on the 2018 finale in Russia, and Davido, Aisha, Ozuna have been a part of the 2022 closing ceremony in Qatar.

Over 100 matches. 16 cities internet hosting in three nations. Over a month’s value of motion, culminating in a momentous finale in New Jersey. The World Cup by no means fails to ship.