Shakira, Madonna and K-pop sensation BTS are set to headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, FIFA announced Thursday through an Instagram post.
The global soccer body says the Super Bowl-inspired performance, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, aims to raise $100 million US for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative focused on improving children’s access to education and soccer around the world.
Martin revealed the lineup in a video shared on Coldplay’s Instagram account. The clip also featured Sesame Street favourites Elmo and Cookie Monster, with BTS making a surprise appearance.
Halftime performances have long been a major attraction at the Super Bowl, drawing huge television audiences and featuring some of music’s biggest names. Over the years, artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Kendrick Lamar, the Rolling Stones, Rihanna, Paul McCartney and Bad Bunny have taken the stage. Madonna, Shakira and Coldplay have also previously headlined the event.
In soccer, however, halftime has traditionally been reserved for players to rest and regroup. Current rules set by the International Football Association Board allow only a 15-minute break, and FIFA has not yet clarified whether extra time will be added to fit in the concert.
The announcement has already generated mixed reactions online, with some fans saying halftime shows should remain a tradition unique to American football.
Still, FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the event as a way to bring music and football together “on the biggest stage in sport for a very special cause.”
“Every child should have the opportunity to dream, and together we can help make that possible he wrote,” he wrote on Instagram.
FIFA also announced last week that reggaeton star J Balvin will perform during the opening ceremony in Mexico City. He’ll be joined by several artists celebrating Mexican culture, including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
This year’s World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will take place throughout June and July.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. He holds CAVCO Personnel Number SINH0106. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
