New york: Shakira, Madonna, and BTS are set to perform at the World Cup final, marking the first-ever halftime show in the tournament's history. FIFA announced this groundbreaking event, which is scheduled to take place at the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19th.
According to Thai News Agency, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), in collaboration with Global Citizen, has organized this halftime show to raise funds for children's education worldwide. The show will feature global icons Shakira, Madonna, and the popular K-pop group BTS. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, has been tasked with overseeing and selecting the lineup for the entire show.
The announcement was accompanied by a promotional video featuring Elmo from Sesame Street, where Martin reached out to BTS, inviting them to join the performance, to which the band agreed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that this event would blend music and football on an unmatched global stage.
Shakira, who attended the launch event, expressed her hope that the performance would highlight the significance of education. She also committed to donating all proceeds from the World Cup anthem, 'Dai Dai,' to the educational fund. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first of its kind to feature a halftime show similar to the Super Bowl.
In related news, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti has extended his contract to manage the Brazilian national team until the 2030 World Cup. Ancelotti, who took over the team in May of the previous year, led Brazil to qualify for the World Cup. Expressing gratitude for the support from the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ancelotti looks forward to guiding the team, which is grouped with Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti for the 2026 tournament.