World Cup final halftime show squeezes stars into a six-minute sprint
Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira appeared during the Spain-Argentina final, with the brief show drawing instant online reaction.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina got a very American-style add-on at halftime: a star-packed show that, according to Mashable, ran for under six minutes.
The performance at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, was billed as the first halftime show for a FIFA World Cup final. The match itself featured Spain against Argentina, while the intermission brought out Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira, with appearances tied to Sesame Street and Ted Lasso.
Mashable reported that the short runtime became part of the joke online, with viewers reacting to how much pre-event attention had been placed on a segment that was shorter than some commercial breaks.
A Super Bowl-style idea lands at soccer’s biggest match
The 2026 tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, marking the first time the World Cup has been staged in the country since 1994. Mashable described the halftime production as part of a wider push toward American sports-style entertainment around the event.
The report also noted criticism around hydration breaks during the tournament, saying many commentators had complained that they functioned like extra advertising windows for Fox. The halftime show gave the final another made-for-TV feature, even if it moved at top speed.
Madonna starts the mini-show
Madonna opened the halftime segment with what Mashable described as a mostly prerecorded entrance. She performed material from her album Confessions II.
The singer also appeared on an ATV with Brazilian football icons Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, known widely as R9. Mashable called the pairing an unusual visual for a World Cup final halftime production.
BTS gets a quick burst
BTS followed with a brief appearance, performing Dynamite from the group’s album BE. Mashable described the K-pop group’s turn as one of the most anticipated parts of the show, depending on the audience.
The set was short, in keeping with the whole halftime package. Social media posts embedded by Mashable showed fans and viewers reacting in real time, though several of the displayed tweets were unavailable.
Ted Lasso tees up Bieber
Jason Sudeikis and Brendon Hunt, stars of Ted Lasso, appeared next in a short introduction for Justin Bieber. Mashable reported that the bit framed Bieber as being brought into the show in soccer-substitution style.
Bieber’s performance slowed the pace after BTS, according to Mashable, and the report said viewers were harsh in their reaction. The outlet did not provide readable tweet text in the embedded posts shown for that section.
Shakira closes with Burna Boy
Shakira then appeared with Burna Boy, her collaborator on the FIFA World Cup theme, to perform Dai Dai. Their segment was the final named musical moment in Mashable’s rundown of the halftime show.
With four major music acts, TV cameos and football royalty all squeezed into one short break, the first World Cup halftime show gave fans plenty to react to before Spain and Argentina resumed the final.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.