The 2026 World Cup final half-time show ran to 27 minutes and 22 seconds – the longest in tournament history – as pop royalty including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and K-pop group BTS performed for tens of thousands at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Madonna opened the segment with her hit Music, appearing from tunnels under the arena, flanked by Brazilian greats Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage to perform their collaboration Dai Dai, a global chart hit that has been a fixture in stadiums throughout the tournament. Justin Bieber played guitar during his segment, and BTS made their comeback from a three-year music hiatus after completing mandatory military service in South Korea.
“Half-time show lasting 27 minutes featured Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, and more, with Trump confirmed to attend.”
The half-time spectacle – the first Super Bowl-style show at a World Cup – also featured Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and Italian singer Laura Pausini performing together, while Post Malone and Swae Lee delivered a rendition of Sunflower. Earlier, streamer IShowSpeed took to the field alongside drummers and dancers in vibrant tracksuits, and actor Tom Cruise spoke about the power of football to unite people. Jennifer Hudson sang the US national anthem before kick-off.
Among the celebrities watching on were Kylie Jenner with her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, Beyonce and Jay-Z, British-Argentine actress Anya Taylor-Joy with her husband Malcolm McRae, and David and Victoria Beckham sharing a laugh with Tom Cruise. The White House confirmed Trump will attend the final.
Justin Bieber, a longtime Arsenal fan who has posed with Mesut Ozil and Martin Odegaard, showed his support for the Gunners while occasionally sporting other kits, including an Everton strip in 2015 and a Mexico national team jersey during the World Cup.