Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber ignite World Cup final halftime show in Super Bowl style

FIFA transformed the halftime of the World Cup final into a grand musical festival, mirroring the American Super Bowl, with a performance lasting less than fifteen minutes that brought together stars such as Shakira, Madonna, BTS, and Justin Bieber. This halftime show, a tradition deeply rooted in major U.S. sporting events, was a novelty for the World Cup. It necessitated an extension of the final's break between Argentina and Spain beyond the usual 15 minutes.

The spectacle saw a total of 27 minutes pass from the players leaving the field at the end of the first half until the second half commenced. One of the most electrifying moments was the rendition of 'Dai Dai,' the official World Cup song, performed by Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy, who had the MetLife stadium dancing. They were joined by winners of the Dai Dai Challenge contest and the Ugandan group Ghetto Kids, known for their viral choreographies.

Other featured artists included Madonna, accompanied by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazário upon entering the stage, BTS, and Justin Bieber, who performed 'Everyyhing Hallejujah' solo with just his guitar. Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, accompanied by the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, also made an appearance on one side of the stage. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Timothée Chalamet, and Matt Damon were in the stands, alongside characters from 'Sesame Street' and the PS22 youth choir.

The show, complete with pyrotechnics, also served to promote the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at financing projects for education and sports access for children. Prior to the match, the World Cup's closing ceremony featured Post Malone alongside other notable figures such as actor Tom Cruise, singers Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini, and content creator IShowSpeed. Additionally, Mario Kempes and Andrés Iniesta presented the trophy before the opening whistle. Jennifer Hudson, an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award winner, also performed a special rendition of the U.S. national anthem before the game began. The production was managed by Global Citizen in collaboration with Live Nation and Done + Dusted, with artistic direction from Coldplay's lead, Chris Martin.