First World Cup halftime show draws mixed reactions for Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna performances

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is historic for a number of reasons. Argentina has the opportunity to become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962. It’s among the most expensive sporting events ever, and the culmination of the most attended World Cup in tournament history.

Oh, and it featured the first halftime show of a World Cup Final, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

In a short, at least by Super Bowl halftime show standards, performance, the show featured performances by Madonna, The Muppets, BTS, Justin Bieber, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, an appearance by Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, Shakira with guest Burna Boy, and a closing song from a group of children assembled in the middle of the field.

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BTS performs during the halftime show in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Madonna started her performance in the tunnel, before moving out onto the field to cheers from the crowd.

Dudamel “conducted” The Muppets in their performance of “Seven Nation Army,” before BTS joined to sing “Dynamite,” one of the group’s biggest hits. Ted Lasso then “subbed in” Bieber to sing “Everything Hallelujah,” a quieter ballad that he adjusted the lyrics to incorporate “World Cup.”

Justin Bieber performs during the halftime show.

Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official World Cup anthem, “Dai Dai,” surrounded by backup dancers, which added some energy before the show closed. Children, joined by Chris Martin and many of the other performers, sang about “love” on the field.

Shakira performs onstage during the Halftime Show.

Many compared it favorably to the Super Bowl halftime show from Bad Bunny, saying it had more energy and was intelligible, unlike most of Bad Bunny’s “singing.”

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Others criticized the length of the show, saying that it took 27 minutes to go from the end of the first half to the start of the second. Former English soccer star Wayne Rooney had some harsh words on the BBC broadcast, saying he thought it was “crap.”

Still, while many questioned the need for a World Cup halftime show at all, most seemed to think it was well done, flowed well and didn’t drag on too long.

Stadium seats and field during the halftime show.

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What needs more excitement? The actual play during the final, with both Spain and Argentina taking their time to warm up into the match and unable to find many good scoring opportunities. Given the success of the show, however, it seems like this will become part of the tradition at the conclusion of the World Cup.

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