The first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup Final, held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featured a star-studded lineup including Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and The Muppets, with curation by Coldplay's Chris Martin. The performances aimed to bring an unprecedented level of entertainment to the prestigious match.
Madonna opened the show from the tunnel before moving onto the field, followed by The Muppets performing "Seven Nation Army" with conductor Gustavo Dudamel. South Korean group BTS then performed their hit "Dynamite," and Justin Bieber sang a modified version of "Everything Hallelujah." Shakira and Burna Boy delivered a performance of the official World Cup anthem, "Dai Dai." The show concluded with a group of children joining many of the performers to sing a song about "love."
Reactions to the halftime show were varied. Some viewers drew favorable comparisons to Super Bowl halftime performances, noting the energy and intelligibility of the acts. However, others criticized the duration, with the transition from the first half to the second reportedly taking 27 minutes. Former English soccer player Wayne Rooney was quoted on the BBC broadcast as calling the show "crap."
Despite the mixed reviews, many observers felt the show was well-executed and flowed smoothly. The halftime show was part of a historic World Cup Final, with hosts New York and New Jersey anticipating the event as potentially the largest in human history. The final also marked an opportunity for Argentina to become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962, and was the culmination of the most attended World Cup in tournament history.
While the halftime show generated considerable discussion, the on-field action saw Spain and Argentina take time to find their rhythm. Given the success of the inaugural show, it is likely to become a fixture in future World Cup traditions.