Lead

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured the first halftime show in the tournament's history, with K-pop supergroup BTS, Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber performing at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The show, which ran 27 minutes and 22 seconds, was the longest in World Cup history, as reported by BBC — World.

Coverage comparison

Reports on the event varied in focus. Yonhap News — English emphasized BTS's performance, describing it as a "milestone moment" that blended sport and music. The South Korean wire service noted that BTS appeared as the second performer, with member Jungkook taking the stage first to perform the group's hit "Dynamite," followed by the rest of the group joining sequentially for a full-group performance.

BBC — World focused on the breadth of the show, reporting that Madonna opened with "Music," emerging alongside roller-skating dancers and flanked by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The outlet also noted that Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage after performing together at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City. Justin Bieber played guitar in his segment, according to BBC — World.

Africa News, meanwhile, highlighted the commercial impact of the show, reporting data from Luminate, the industry data and analytics company. The outlet noted that the show resulted in significant increases in global streams for the songs performed.

Key claims

  • BTS performed at the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final, sharing the stage with Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, as reported by Yonhap News — English and BBC — World.
  • The halftime show was organized by FIFA in partnership with Global Citizen, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the event, according to Yonhap News — English.
  • The show was the longest in World Cup history, lasting 27 minutes and 22 seconds, as reported by BBC — World.
  • The show was watched by several celebrities, including Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet, as well as Beyonce and Jay-Z, according to BBC — World.
  • According to Africa News, Luminate found that global streams of Justin Bieber's "Everything Hallelujah" rose 110%, from 592,000 to 1.25 million; Madonna's "Music" rose 66%, from 193,000 to 321,000; BTS's "Dynamite" rose 43%, from 2.14 million to 3.05 million; and Shakira and Burna Boy's "Dai Dai" rose 24%, from 14.78 million to 18.27 million in global streams, with a 52% increase in the U.S. alone.
  • BTS's performance marked the first time all seven members performed together at a World Cup final, as reported by Yonhap News — English. Jungkook previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Perspectives

BTS: In a statement released through its agency, BigHit Music, BTS said it was "happy to take part in a meaningful show, sharing messages of love alongside amazing artists and children -- it felt like a dream," according to Yonhap News — English. In another Yonhap report, BTS said ahead of the performance that it was "honored" to take part, adding that music is "a universal language that conveys hope and unity."

FIFA and Global Citizen: The halftime show was introduced for the first time in World Cup history, organized by FIFA in partnership with Global Citizen, aiming to combine sport, music, and culture to reach a global audience, as reported by Yonhap News — English.

IFAB: BBC — World reported that the length of the halftime show caused controversy, with the International Football Association Board (Ifab) rules stating players are only entitled to a maximum 15-minute stoppage.