What's happened
FIFA has announced a first-ever World Cup final halftime show. Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, the event will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise $100 million for education and soccer access. Shakira has released the official World Cup song “Dai Dai,” featuring Burna Boy, with performances by Madonna and BTS lined up for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.
What's behind the headline?
brief:
The World Cup final is expanding its format with a halftime concert, a move aligned with FIFA's charitable goals. This reflects a broader trend of blending sport, music and philanthropy to broaden audience engagement.
what this means:
- Expect heightened global attention on the final beyond football, potentially boosting viewership and social impact campaigns.
- The selection of Madonna, Shakira and BTS spans generations and genres, aiming to maximize cross-demographic appeal while advancing the charity fund.
- Logistics and timing will be critical: integrating multiple acts within a 15-minute window while preserving game integrity will be tested in practice.
forecast:
- The show will be a defining feature of this World Cup final, influencing future event formats in major tournaments.
- If successful, more sports events may adopt similar charitable, high-profile half-time moments.
How we got here
The World Cup final in the United States will include a 15-minute halftime show for the first time, produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin. The event is tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a $100 million pledge to help children access education and soccer. Shakira has released the official song “Dai Dai” ahead of the tournament, collaborating with Burna Boy.
Our analysis
AP News reports, New York Times coverage, and Associated Press briefings detail the official announcement, the performers involved, the fundraising goals, and past precedents for halftime entertainment in other large-scale events.
Go deeper
- Will the halftime show affect the schedule or player recovery times during the final?
- How will the $100 million FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund be distributed and judged?
More on these topics
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Shakira - Colombian singer
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and philanthropist. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Shakira has been referred to as the Queen of Latin Music and is noted for her versatility in music.
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BTS - Boy band
BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band who began formation in 2010 and debuted in 2013. The septet co-writes and produces much of their output.
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Madonna - American singer-songwriter
Madonna Louise Ciccone is an American singer-songwriter, actress, author, and record executive. Having been referred to as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s, she is regarded as one of the most impactful figures in popular culture.
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Gianni Infantino - President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino is a Swiss–Italian football administrator and the current president of FIFA. He was elected President of FIFA during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016.
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Chris Martin - Singer-songwriter
Christopher Anthony John Martin is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and philanthropist. He is the lead singer, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay.
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Burna Boy - Nigerian singer
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E.
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MetLife Stadium - Football stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets
New York New Jersey Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, 5 mi (8 km) west of New York City. It opened in 2010, replacing Giants Stadium, and serves as the home for the New...
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FIFA World Cup - Football competition
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport's global governin
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FIFA - Football organization
FIFA is a non-profit organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It is the highest governing body of football.