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Madonna, Shakira, Bieber and The Muppets light up World Cup half-time show
🇸🇬 Singapore /Sports

Madonna, Shakira, Bieber and The Muppets light up World Cup half-time show

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A spectacular, first-ever World Cup final half-time show featured a star-studded lineup including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Coldplay.
  • The 12-minute performance, designed to raise money for children's sports access, included tributes to Pele and a global musical collaboration.
  • Organizers billed the event as the largest artist gathering for a cause since Live Aid, though some criticized the extended break's potential impact on players.

The World Cup final on Sunday featured a groundbreaking half-time show, a first for the football championship, boasting an unprecedented lineup of global music superstars. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Coldplay headlined the 12-minute spectacle, which also incorporated a tribute to the late Brazilian football icon Pele and a unique musical collaboration led by Gustavo Dudamel, featuring musicians from the US, Venezuela, and Iran.

the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid

— OrganisersOrganisers had billed the half-time show as "the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid".

The performance aimed to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, promoting sports access for underprivileged children. Sesame Street and Muppets characters joined Coldplay and a New York elementary school choir to conclude the show. Organizers promoted the event as the largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid and predicted it would be the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history, with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino anticipating "a couple of billion" viewers.

the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history

— OrganisersOrganisers had billed the half-time show as "the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history".

While the show was a dazzling display, the extended 27-minute half-time break drew some criticism for its potential to disrupt players' performance. Despite the concerns, the performance was slightly shorter than typical Super Bowl half-time shows. The event kicked off with Madonna arriving via dune buggy, accompanied by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Her performance of "Music" transitioned into an orchestral rendition of "Seven Nation Army." The show continued with K-pop group BTS performing a football-themed version of their hit "Dynamite," followed by surprise appearances from "Ted Lasso" actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt. They introduced Justin Bieber, who performed a World Cup-tailored version of "Everything Hallelujah," before Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy energized the crowd with the World Cup anthem "Dai Dai."

a couple of billion

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA chief Gianni Infantino predicted "a couple of billion" people would tune in.

Footage of Brazilian legend Pele from 1977 was shown, recalling his final professional game. The PS22 Chorus, a New York school choir, along with Coldplay and characters from "The Muppets" and "Sesame Street," closed the show. Chris Martin, Coldplay's singer, curated the entire performance.

Music

— MadonnaThe crowd erupted with a roar as the show began with Madonna being transported through tunnels beneath MetLife Stadium on a dune buggy driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Her performance of Music led to an orchestra featuring the New York Philharmonic, Venezuela's Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi performing the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, a rock hit that has become a global US football stadium staple.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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