FIFA just announced its most ambitious entertainment moment yet, and it delivers on every level.
Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, set for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The announcement was made Thursday in a playful social media video featuring Coldplay‘s Chris Martin alongside Sesame Street’s Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the full Muppets crew, who FaceTimed BTS to seal the deal.
The performance, coming in at approximately 11 minutes, will be curated by Martin and produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. Proceeds benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. More than $30 million has already been raised.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the lineup “global icons whose music transcends borders and generations.” The three headliners have each made their own statement on what the night means. “Without education, children are denied opportunity before they even have a chance,” Madonna said. Shakira, a board member of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, added that she hopes “the importance of investing in children’s education steals the show.”
Both Madonna (2012 Super Bowl) and Shakira (2020 Super Bowl, with Jennifer Lopez) have already headlined the NFL’s halftime show. BTS, meanwhile, is currently in the midst of their ARIRANG World Tour after their chart-topping reunion album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 earlier this year.
The World Cup kicks off June 11.
