BTS is set to take the stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show. The septet will co-headline the first-ever halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history alongside Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and more.
Organised by FIFA and Global Citizen, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin serving as the show’s curator, the performance is expected to blend entertainment with a global fundraising initiative. The event will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm local time (ET), or 19:00 GMT.
The halftime show is expected to begin at approximately 3:55 pm local time after the first half, taking into account stoppage time and the hydration break, unless there are significant delays during the match. According to reports, the performance itself will last around 11 minutes. Although a standard football halftime lasts 15 minutes, the interval may be extended to allow for stage setup and production.
Fans across different countries and time zones can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show live through the tournament’s official broadcast partners in their respective countries. The table below outlines the expected local airtime of the performance, which may shift slightly depending on first-half stoppage time, along with the official broadcasters and streaming platforms airing the final in each region.
BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna and more: Inside the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup final will introduce a halftime show for the first time in the tournament’s history and it has drawn comparisons with the Super Bowl’s entertainment format. FIFA has partnered with Global Citizen to produce the event, while Chris Martin of Coldplay is overseeing its creative direction.
The halftime show was first announced through a social media video released by Coldplay. The clip featured Chris Martin alongside Sesame Street’s Elmo and Cookie Monster, Muppets characters including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
It concluded with a FaceTime call featuring BTS, confirming the group’s participation in the historic performance. The confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show:
- BTS
- Justin Bieber
- Madonna
- Shakira
- Burna Boy
- Gustavo Dudamel
- PS22 Chorus with Coldplay
- Sesame Street characters
- The Muppets characters
For BTS, the event represents the group’s first appearance together at a FIFA World Cup ceremony and makes them the first K-pop act to headline a FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show. The performance also marks one of the septet’s biggest international appearances since reuniting after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service and resuming group activities and touring.
The upcoming show also adds another achievement to Jungkook’s FIFA history. He has previously performed Dreamers at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a solo artist. With BTS now appearing at the 2026 final, Jungkook becomes the first Asian and Korean artist to perform at multiple FIFA World Cup ceremonies, joining Shakira among the select artists who have appeared at more than one FIFA World Cup event.
In an official statement, BTS described the invitation as a meaningful opportunity. The group said it was “a great honour” to perform on a stage that unites people from around the world, adding that they believe music is a universal language capable of delivering hope and unity. They also noted that contributing to educational opportunities for children through the event made the performance even more significant.
Excitement surrounding BTS’s FIFA involvement increased further on July 8, 2026, when j-hope hosted a Weverse Live broadcast. During the livestream, a fan asked whether the group would release a song for FIFA. Rather than confirming or denying anything, the rapper simply responded, “Mmm,” while shrugging, leading fans to continue discussing the possibility of new music connected to the tournament.
Beyond the musical performances, the show is tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working toward raising $100 million to improve access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. Reports state that more than $30 million had already been raised, while Global Citizen later confirmed the total had surpassed $50 million. Additionally, $1 from every FIFA World Cup ticket sold during the tournament is being directed toward the campaign.
Meanwhile, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, BTS is scheduled to perform two consecutive shows at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, on July 17 and 18 as part of the ARIRANG World Tour.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty