Madonna, The Muppets, and Justin Bieber appear in the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show

The inaugural World Cup half-time show took place during Sunday's final match between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey.

The 11-minute show featured Madonna, The Muppets, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Chris Martin and more. The show extended the interval to approximately 27 minutes, breaking FIFA regulations restricting the break to 15 minutes.

The show was staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for children around the world.

Madonna opened the show from an underground warehouse within the stadium. She delivered a remix of her 2000 hit 'Music', singing the lines "Music makes the people come together," while riding on a buggy driven by Brazil legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

 

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The Muppets then followed with a rendition of The White Stripes’ 'Seven Nation Army'.

K-pop boy band BTS took the stage next to perform their single 'Dynamite', which was followed by an appearance from Jason Sudeikis, portraying his character from the TV show Ted Lasso.

"I think we need some heart, someone who can bring love," Sudeikis remarked, before introducing Justin Bieber, who performed an acoustic version of his track 'Everything Hallelujah'. The singer modified the final refrain to: "It's the World Cup, Hallelujah."

Shakira later performed 'Dai Dai' with Burna Boy, the official anthem for the tournament.

Coldplay then delivered a performance of their track 'Believe in Love', backed by child choir PS22 Chorus. The finale of the spectacle featured cameo appearances on the pitch by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Chris Martin wore a shirt that stated 'Everyone is an alien somewhere' .

 

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A variety of celebrities gathered for the tournament's closing ceremony before the match, featuring Tom Cruise, Jennifer Hudson, and Robbie Williams. Hudson sang the 'Star-Spangled Banner', while Williams performed the FIFA anthem, "Desire". Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini and Pussycat Dolls vocalist Nicole Scherzinger accompanied him.

The pre-kickoff show also featured streamer and online influencer-turned-professional wrestler IShowSpeed, alongside rapper Swae Lee and Post Malone. Post Malone showcased 'Chrome Heartbreaker,' rumoured to be the lead single from his upcoming album, The Eternal Buzz. He also teamed up with Swae Lee to perform 'Sunflower.'

Robert Smith from The Cure, Liam Gallagher from Oasis, and former England international Wayne Rooney shared criticism about the halftime show.

“FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as a ‘groundbreaking spectacle’ that will ‘celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.' #BreadAndCircuses,” Smith wrote in an Instagram post.

Smith referenced that Donald Trump was awarded the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize" at the World Cup draw in December 2025, a controversial honor that soccer's governing body invented shortly after Trump didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump is the first sitting US president to attend a World Cup final in the US and handed the World Cup trophy to the winners.

Smith followed up with another post, writing: “For those of us not quite getting it, the point is not really about who is curating or performing, it is about the mugwank idea of a football world cup final halftime show."

“Infantosser has said he and US president Trumpton will hand over the trophy on Sunday," he added. "Sadly, there are not enough A’s left for the ‘ARGH’ that should follow.”

Liam Gallagher took to X to share his feelings on the show.

“This is like a bad trip," he wrote. “It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.”

Wayne Rooney shared his thoughts on the BBC radio broadcast.

"It just didn't get me going, and I wanted the football to come back on," said the former England captain. "I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat."