The 2026 World Cup final has finally arrived after five weeks and 103 matches, with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spain/">Spain</a> preparing to face <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a> in a blockbuster showdown at MetLife Stadium. While the battle for soccer’s greatest prize will dominate headlines, fans are also eagerly waiting to discover which global superstars will take center stage during the tournament’s groundbreaking halftime show.



The championship match already promises a clash of contrasting styles, with Spain entering as the tournament’s best defensive side and Argentina boasting the competition’s most prolific attack. Away from the action on the pitch, FIFA has planned an unprecedented entertainment spectacle that is expected to make history during the final.



For the first time in the tournament’s 96-year history, FIFA will stage a Super Bowl-style halftime show during the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a> final. The organization confirmed the performance will take place during the Spain versus Argentina showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking a major change for soccer’s biggest event.



The musical performance itself will last approximately 11 minutes, while the entire halftime interval has been extended to 17 minutes to allow crews to install and remove the stage before the second half begins. That schedule is considerably shorter than earlier reports suggesting a possible 30-minute break.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/06/10165817/shakira-world-cup-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="shakira world cup" class="wp-image-651673"><figcaption>Singer Shakira performs during the closing ceremony prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Fina</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Star-studded lineup finally revealed</h2>



FIFA has assembled one of the biggest collections of performers ever seen at a soccer event. The halftime show will be co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS, while additional performances will feature Burna Boy, Coldplay alongside the PS22 Chorus, acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel, musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Sesame Street and The Muppets characters.



Full list of scheduled performers:



<ul><li>Shakira</li><li>Madonna</li><li>Justin Bieber</li><li>BTS</li><li>Burna Boy</li><li>Coldplay with the PS22 Chorus</li><li>Gustavo Dudamel, performing alongside the New York Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra</li><li>Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets</li></ul>



Before kickoff, fans inside the stadium will also be treated to performances from Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Tom Cruise, Nicole Scherzinger, and IShowSpeed, adding even more entertainment to the World Cup’s closing ceremony.



The halftime production has been curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen and Live Nation, with FIFA expecting the show to reach an audience of roughly two billion viewers worldwide.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Shakira, Burna Boy - Dai Dai (Official Video)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fcnDmrtj6Sk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h2>Show designed for more than entertainment</h2>



Beyond music, FIFA says the halftime spectacle supports a broader mission. The event is tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise more than $100 million to expand access to education and soccer opportunities for children around the world.



FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “As the world comes together for the biggest match in soccer on 19 July 2026 in New York New Jersey, this historic show will also shine a light on a greater purpose by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our shared mission to expand access to quality education and soccer opportunities for children worldwide.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/06/05123933/infantino-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-649927"><figcaption>FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup trophy.</figcaption></figure>



He added: “It will be a celebration of soccer, unity and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle.”

Who’s performing at the Spain vs Argentina 2026 World Cup final halftime show?

Who's performing at the Spain vs Argentina 2026 World Cup final halftime show? - World Soccer Talk

The 2026 World Cup Final, scheduled for July 19th at MetLife Stadium, will make history as the first in the competition to feature a halftime show. With BTS, Madonna, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/shakira/">Shakira</a> already confirmed, Justin Bieber has now been announced as the latest headline addition to a star-studded lineup that continues to grow.



On Wednesday, July 8th, <a href="https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/justin-bieber-world-cup-2026-final-halftime-show-madonna-shakira-bts">FIFA released a statement confirming that Canadian pop star Justin Bieber will join the bill as a co-headliner</a> of what has officially been dubbed the World Cup Final Halftime Show, alongside Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.



FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke to the announcement: “When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education. We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the FIFA <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a> 2026 Final Halftime Show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.“



Bieber also weighed in on joining the lineup. “The World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world,” he said to FIFA.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Justin Bieber to co-headline first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show with Madonna, Shakira and BTS! 🤩🎶— FIFA (@FIFAcom) <a href="https://x.com/FIFAcom/status/2074937563224170786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>The complete World Cup Final Halftime Show lineup</h2>



Bieber joins the previously announced co-headliners Madonna, Shakira, and BTS for a show curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The latest announcement also introduced several new additions to the bill, including Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS 22 Chorus.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup-tv-schedule/"></div>


Burna Boy became one of the tournament’s most recognizable musical presences, his collaboration with Shakira on “Dai Dai” becoming the anthem that greeted players onto the field throughout the competition. Also joining the lineup is Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor and Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, alongside the PS 22 Chorus, a group of elementary school students from Graniteville, Staten Island directed by Gregg Breinberg and past winners of a Webby Award.



All seven artists, each representing a different region of the world, are set to perform across an 11-minute broadcast window. Whether FIFA will extend the traditional 15-minute halftime break to accommodate the full show remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: MetLife Stadium is set to host one of the most ambitious halftime performances in sports history.

Justin Bieber is in: Shakira, Madonna, BTS and the full FIFA World Cup Halftime Show lineup

Justin Bieber is in: Shakira, Madonna, BTS and the full FIFA World Cup Halftime Show lineup - World Soccer Talk

Soccer theme songs are a familiar pool for Colombian pop sensation Shakira. She was the official voice for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a> in South Africa in 2010 and Germany in 2006.



This 47-year-old vocalist is well-known as a prominent figure in the world of soccer themes. Firstly, she sang “Hips Don’t Lie” as the last song of the 2006 World Cup in Berlin. Then, four years later, the 2010 World Cup used the song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” as its official anthem.



Then, “La La La (Brazil 2014)” became the official World Cup song of Brazil 2014. Now, a whole decade later, we’re counting the days before the start of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-tv-schedule/">2024 Copa Americ</a>a.



<h2>What did Shakira say about Copa America song?</h2>



To commemorate this year’s edition of the oldest-running international tournament, she adapted a recent song called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHnDwYgGKkY&amp;ab_channel=shakiraVEVO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Punteria”</a>. It is a duet with Cardi B and appears on her latest album “Las mujeres ya no lloran”.



The Colombian actress made the revelation live during Tuesday’s Upfronts on the network in New York. “It’s the most important soccer event of the year because we know this song is going to be the sound of the summer for fans around the world,” Shakira told EFE. “It’s the power of our culture and our music.”



Eighteen teams from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL will compete in the tournament. It takes place in the US from June 20 to July 14. The championship is up for grabs, and various giants will be competing.



South American powerhouses including Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and Uruguay are among the ten national teams competing. Through CONCACAF, the U.S. and Mexican national teams also secured a spot in the tournament. The Argentines triumphed in the previous edition of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-team-previews/">Copa America</a> in 2011.



<h2>Is it the official Copa theme song?</h2>



Despite claims to the contrary by several news organizations, this song will not serve as the Copa America theme song. It is really from TelevisaUnivision’s broadcast, according to a <a href="https://twitter.com/ShakiraMedia/status/1790475179627258235" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spokesman for Sony Music</a>, Shakira’s record label.



The official tournament broadcaster’s picture and theme music came first, followed by the song itself. This was followed by the publication of a video showcasing the Colombian singer’s vocals. They didn’t make a formal presentation or provide any further information.



As the first single from the artist’s most recent album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, “Punteria” was released on March 22. The energetic electro-pop song peaked at number three on Hot Latin Songs. It also reached number seven on Latin Airplay and Latin Pop Airplay, among other Billboard charts. In addition, the single debuted at number seventy-two on the Billboard Hot 100.



It seems quite logical to use “Punteria” as the theme song for the 2024 Copa America, especially with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/shakira-football-stars-to-dance-at-messis-wedding-20170630-CMS-215542.html">Shakira</a> and Cardi B singing about having excellent aim. Everything in soccer is the aim—from passes and shots to saves and facing the goal—so accuracy is key.



For this reason, Shakira is back to using her talents for the benefit of the world’s most-watched sport. If Cupid were to shoot arrows at their hearts instead of the soccer teams, their disco-pop smash hit would serve as inspiration.



PHOTO: IMAGO

2024 Copa America to include Shakira song: Is it official anthem?

Soccer theme songs are a familiar pool for Colombian pop sensation Shakira, and now she is adding the Copa America to her collection.

Latest news from shakira. Find out about all the news related to shakira on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "shakira"

World Cup

Who’s performing at the Spain vs Argentina 2026 World Cup final halftime show?

World Cup

Justin Bieber is in: Shakira, Madonna, BTS and the full FIFA World Cup Halftime Show lineup

Copa America 2024

2024 Copa America to include Shakira song: Is it official anthem?