The World Cup's first halftime show took place on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, located outside New York, featuring a star-studded lineup of global music icons, including Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, Shakira, and Burna Boy. The 11-minute spectacle sought to emulate the vibrant atmosphere of a Super Bowl performance, showcasing each artist for approximately two minutes, contrasting the typical longer slot given to single headliners in American football.
Madonna kicked off the show with her well-known 2000 dance-pop track "Music," bringing former Brazilian soccer greats Ronaldo and Ronaldinho into the mix. The performance began with a seemingly pre-recorded segment at a roller rink, before Madonna made her entrance on a dune buggy, energetically singing, “Music, makes the people come together.”
The performance also featured Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor, who led an orchestra in a rendition of The White Stripes’ iconic "Seven Nation Army." The Muppets house band added a playful touch, with drummer Animal taking the place of Meg White.
K-pop superstars BTS followed, clad in red and black, energizing the crowd with their hit "Dynamite," which included a nod to Norway's Viking row. The show's pacing continued to shift as Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, in character from "Ted Lasso," cheered on Justin Bieber, who shifted the mood with an acoustic performance of "Everything Hallelujah."
Shakira and Burna Boy took the stage next, delivering their official World Cup anthem "Dai Dai," which will be played during all 104 matches of the tournament. Shakira, performing barefoot and dressed in a vibrant yellow and pink feather outfit, was accompanied by dancers, including children. Their performance featured a catchy refrain in Italian that translates to “Let’s go!”
Shakira is renowned for her World Cup contributions, having made a notable impact in previous tournaments, including her 2010 hit "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)." The show concluded with a heartwarming performance by the PS22 Chorus, consisting of elementary school students from Staten Island, accompanied by Dudamel. Coldplay's Chris Martin joined in, along with Shakira and a host of Muppets and “Sesame Street” characters, adding to the show’s festive atmosphere.
Pre-match ceremonies were equally star-studded, featuring performances from Jennifer Hudson, who opened the ceremony, alongside Robbie Williams and Post Malone. Williams performed his FIFA anthem "Desire," donning a sparkling blue tracksuit, with guest performances from Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini, who were dressed in matching blue gowns.
The streamer IShowSpeed initially hit the field, performing his song "Champions," before Post Malone presented a new track titled "Chrome Heartbreaker," followed by a collaborative performance of their 2018 hit "Sunflower," with Swae Lee. Tom Cruise then delivered an enthusiastic speech while dressed casually in a polo shirt and jeans, rallying the audience to celebrate the tournament.
During the ceremony, Jennifer Hudson wowed the crowd with an a cappella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," standing in front of a collection of world flags. Spain’s national anthem, “La Marcha Real,” was played instrumentally by Spanish Brass, followed by Argentina’s “Himno Nacional Argentino,” which was performed live by pop star María Becerra, showcasing her attire inspired by the Argentine flag.
