Madonna, Shakira and K-pop sensation BTS are set to headline a Super Bowl-inspired half-time show at the FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, FIFA announced on Thursday.

The performance, which will be curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will mark the first-ever half-time entertainment show in the history of a football World Cup final. However, the decision has also sparked questions over the potential length of the half-time interval.

The expanded 48-team World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Gianni Infantino first revealed plans for “the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final” in March last year, although he did not initially disclose the performers or the duration of the event.

“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a spectacle worthy of the biggest sporting event on the planet,” Infantino wrote on Instagram.

The decision follows the model used during the 2024 Copa América final in Miami, where Shakira delivered a half-time performance at Hard Rock Stadium.

A similar entertainment segment also took place at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, with the interval lasting beyond the standard 15-minute break.

Gianni Infantino also revealed that FIFA plans to “take over” Times Square during the closing weekend of the World Cup celebrations.

The star-studded half-time show will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, a campaign aiming to raise $100 million for children around the world throughout the tournament.

Meanwhile, Shakira recently teased the new official World Cup song by sharing a short video filmed at Maracanã Stadium.

The Colombian superstar — who famously performed the 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) — announced the new track, titled Dai Dai, through a post on her Instagram account.

In the 67-second teaser, Shakira is seen on the pitch at Maracanã Stadium, shortly after performing a free concert at Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach that attracted more than two million fans.

Holding the official 2026 World Cup match ball, the “Trionda”, the Colombian star sang parts of the new track in English while surrounded by dancers wearing the colours of several national teams, including the United States and Colombia.

The song was created in collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is scheduled for official release on Thursday. The video, which was also shared by FIFA’s official World Cup account, closes with the slogan: “We’re ready!”

Shakira has enjoyed a long-standing connection with the World Cup, having performed at the 2006 and 2014 finals, while also creating the iconic 2010 tournament anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).