Women's Lifestyle July 19, 2026 0 Comments

Shakira’s World Cup Halftime Set Didn’t Just Shine — It Broke the Internet, Here’s Why You Can’t Miss It!

Ever wondered what happens when the worlds of soccer, pop royalty, and—wait for it—the Muppets collide on one epic stage? Well, buckle up, because the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show just flipped the script on what a mid-game performance can be. Forget your usual jam-packed American halftime shouting match; this was a global spectacle curated by none other than Coldplay’s Chris Martin, blending iconic acts like Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber with unexpected magic—yes, including a children’s choir and those lovable Electric Mayhem Muppets. It was a wild, dazzling 11-minute plunge into unity, music, and culture, reminding us all why the World Cup isn’t just a game, but a worldwide celebration that demands a halftime show as colossal as the event itself. Curious to dive into the full rundown of this star-studded, genre-bending extravaganza? LEARN MORE

3 min read

Americans are used to jam-packed halftime shows featuring music superstars flanked by a bevy of Very Special Guests all crammed into one high-octane spectacle. But nothing could prepare an audience for the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, which featured Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber alongside other cultural icons, a children’s choir, and … the Muppets!

In the middle of the final match between Argentina and Spain, the highly anticipated, first-ever World Cup halftime show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, showed what it means when a performance is geared toward a global audience. And it should come as no surprise that the highlight of the 11-minute affair was Shakira, a global superstar who has not only already commanded a Super Bowl halftime show alongside Jennifer Lopez, but has also been the singer behind the FIFA World Cup anthem three times.

After lending her chops to “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for 2010’s tournament and “La La La” in Brazil four years later, she returned to the world stage during the July 19 final to perform the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy. “Dai Dai,” which takes its name from an Italian slang term meaning “Come on!,” was a rousing highlight of the show, with the singer performing a fully choreographed dance dressed in pink and yellow sequins and feathers.

Madonna opened the show with what appeared to be a pre-recorded performance. The icon wore a pink, reflective ensemble and sang her hit “Music,” while being carted around in a tricked-out jeep driven by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. “Music” makes sense as the Queen of Pop’s only cut to be featured in the show, given its underlying message of unity on the dance floor. But Madge still managed to reference her latest album Confessions II by sneaking in an interpolation from her hit “Danceteria,” which asks everyone to “Get up and dance!”

But the real fever-dream began when the camera panned from the Queen of Pop to another iconic musical act: three members of the Muppet rock group Electric Mayhem, including Janice and Animal, who, alongside a dancing orchestra, did a rendition of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”

Next, BTS reminded us all why it commands a global audience with a lit performance of its No. 1 hit single “Dynamite,” featuring a multicolored troupe of dancers. The show was an anticipated global return for the band, as one of its biggest performances since going on hiatus.

While most of the show featured dance-ready tunes, Bieber slowed down the tempo with a rendition of “Everything Hallelujah” from his latest album Swag II. In one of the show’s more bizarre moments, Bieber took the stage after being introduced by Jason Sudeikis in character as the titular protagonist of his Apple TV show Ted Lasso. But, after that momentary oddity, Bieber offered a subdued, lo-fi performance that underscored his vocal chops. Rather than opting for flashy choreo, he appeared with only a guitar and a mic, sauntering around the field and crooning. The Biebs even rewrote a lyric: “It’s the World Cup … Hallelujah.”

Like watching a World Cup game at a crowded bar, the halftime show was at times overwhelming, but that was sort of the point. The World Cup is one few truly global affairs, so it’s only right that the event’s first halftime show be a sprawling international medley. Just having Shakira, Bieber, Madonna, and BTS—as well as Martin, behind the scenes—would be enough for this to have been one of the most star-studded telecasts in recent history. But the show also highlighted a roster of perhaps lesser-known yet still meaningful talent, including Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Iraqi-Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly, Ugandan dance troupe Ghetto Kids, and a children’s choir from P.S. 22 in Staten Island, New York.

By the time the show ended, people may have been too overloaded to fully process the final message of peace and love. Still, the first FIFA World Cup Final halftime show proved that there’s room for more than one musical mid-sports-game extravaganza on television.