Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the half-time show at the final in New Jersey
Global music icons Madonna and Shakira, alongside K-pop sensation BTS, are slated to co-headline the highly anticipated half-time show at this summer’s World Cup final.
The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will culminate in the final match held in New Jersey on July 19.
Sources indicate that the performance is expected to run for approximately 11 minutes.
Reports have suggested the show’s duration might exceed 15 minutes, a timeframe that contravenes official regulations governing half-time intervals.
Notably, the half-time entertainment during last summer’s Club World Cup final in the US, featuring Chelsea and Paris St-Germain, extended beyond 24 minutes.
While pre-match performances at prestigious events like the Champions League final have become commonplace, this marks the first instance of a dedicated half-time show at a World Cup final.
Shakira, the celebrated Colombian pop artist, is set to release “Dai Dai,” the official World Cup anthem, on Thursday. The song, featuring Nigerian artist Burna Boy, incorporates an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on.”
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer, 49, previously released “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Madonna, revered as the “Queen of Pop” and the best-selling female music artist of all time, is preparing for the release of her 15th album, “Confessions II,” on July 3.
The 67-year-old icon made a surprise appearance at Coachella in April, joining Sabrina Carpenter for a duet of “Vogue” and “Like A Prayer.”
BTS, the seven-member K-pop group, holds the title of best-selling musical act in South Korean history, with over 45 million albums sold. Their collaboration with Coldplay, “My Universe,” reached number three in the UK charts in 2021.
Following a three-year hiatus for mandatory military service, the band is currently making their comeback and will be in the midst of an 85-date world tour during the final.
In March, Fifa president Gianni Infantino hailed the show as “a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the half-time show will also serve as a fundraising initiative for the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise $100 million (£73 million) for children’s education worldwide.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
Get football news sent straight to your phone