With Shakira, the Ghetto Kids and world-renowned performers, World Cup 2026 felt more like a global music festival with football at its heart.
Football delivered the goals, emotions and unforgettable drama, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup also doubled as a global entertainment extravaganza.
The tournament’s first-ever final halftime show packed an astonishing lineup into 11 high-energy minutes, featuring Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Coldplay, the Muppets and two Brazilian football icons. With appearances from Tom Cruise, Post Malone, IShowSpeed and a series of viral musical moments, the 2026 World Cup repeatedly produced scenes that felt straight out of the unexpected.
1. Madonna stole the spotlight with a surprise arrival alongside football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho behind the wheel
Nobody does a grand entrance quite like Madonna, and she delivered a spectacle that was extravagant even by her own legendary standards.
The Queen of Pop made her way through the stadium tunnels in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian football icons Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before launching into a revamped performance of her 2000 hit “Music”, blending it with elements of “Disco Inferno” and “Danceteria” for a high-energy showpiece.
Watching two World Cup-winning icons chauffeur Madonna onto the pitch was the kind of celebrity-football crossover moment that no one could have predicted — even on a 2026 bingo card.
2. Justin Bieber’s performance took the atmosphere in a completely different direction
Following Madonna’s extravagant arrival and an orchestral take on “Seven Nation Army,” Justin Bieber brought a completely different vibe to the stage with an acoustic guitar performance of a reimagined “Everything Hallelujah.”
Introduced by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt in their iconic Ted Lasso and Coach Beard roles, Bieber’s appearance came with plenty of playful buildup. However, the mellow acoustic set created a sharp contrast in a show aiming to deliver a Super Bowl-style spectacle, leaving his stripped-back performance feeling more like a quiet coffeehouse session than a stadium celebration.
It was certainly a bold creative decision and quickly became one of the show’s most talked-about moments, with social media reactions proving far from forgiving.
3. Shakira showed once again that the World Cup is where she truly belongs
At this stage, Shakira and the World Cup have become almost inseparable — a partnership built over years of unforgettable performances.
The Colombian superstar returned to the global stage to perform “Dai Dai,” the official anthem played before matches throughout the tournament, alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy. Performing barefoot and dressed in a vibrant yellow-and-pink feathered outfit, Shakira brought the colour, choreography and unmistakable World Cup spirit that the halftime show demanded.
Sixteen years after “Waka Waka” became a World Cup anthem, Shakira once again proved she knows exactly how to capture the spirit of football’s biggest stage.
4. Uganda’s Ghetto Kids brought their energy to football’s biggest stage
Uganda’s Ghetto Kids’ appearance alongside Shakira and Burna Boy was far more than a brief cameo.
The young dance group brought their signature energy and infectious enthusiasm to “Dai Dai”, performing during the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final. In a spectacle packed with international superstars, the Ghetto Kids stood out with their joyful performances, adding one of the show’s most memorable and uplifting moments.
From viral dance sensations to performing on football’s biggest stage, the Ghetto Kids’ journey was the kind of World Cup story made for celebration.
5. BTS brought “Dynamite” energy to the halftime show
TS raised the energy levels with a football-inspired performance of their global smash hit “Dynamite.”
Dressed in striking red-and-black outfits, the group delivered one of the halftime show’s most recognisable and high-impact performances. Their appearance also sparked a viral moment of its own, as streamer IShowSpeed was captured enthusiastically reacting to the performance from the stands.
In a halftime show packed with endless star power, BTS proved that even a short appearance could leave a lasting impression.
6. The Muppets turned “Seven Nation Army” into an orchestral spectacle
Gustavo Dudamel leading musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra would have been a spectacular performance on its own.
But adding the Muppets’ Electric Mayhem — featuring Animal unleashing chaos on the drums — turned the moment into something completely unexpected and unforgettable. Their orchestral version of stadium favourite “Seven Nation Army” captured the wonderfully surreal celebrity mix that defined the 2026 World Cup’s entertainment spectacle.
Classical orchestras, rock anthems and furry puppets at a World Cup final — exactly the kind of unexpected crossover that made the tournament’s entertainment lineup so memorable.
7. Ted Lasso returned to deliver a motivational moment for Bieber
Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt made a surprise return as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard to introduce Justin Bieber on the World Cup stage.
The duo delivered a playful pre-performance pep talk, with Ted jokingly reassuring Bieber that no one was watching — a humorous line given the millions of eyes around the world tuned in.
It was undeniably a bold piece of television promotion, but it also became one of the halftime show’s sharpest and most entertaining pop-culture moments.
8. IShowSpeed went from watching the World Cup to taking centre stage at the final
The line between internet fame and traditional sporting entertainment blurred when IShowSpeed opened the pre-match celebrations with his World Cup-inspired track “Champions.”
Having streamed from multiple matches throughout the tournament, the online sensation later stepped onto the pitch for an official performance at the final. Whether it represented a new era of fan-driven entertainment or the ultimate rise of influencer culture depended largely on how much chaos one could handle from the livestream world.
Whether viewed as a groundbreaking shift or peak influencer culture, IShowSpeed’s journey from streaming matches in the crowd to performing at the final perfectly captured the unique entertainment landscape of this World Cup.
9. Tom Cruise delivered a very Tom Cruise-style World Cup speech
Tom Cruise did not jump out of a plane or descend from the stadium ceiling, but his appearance still carried the unmistakable intensity of a “Mission: Impossible” briefing.
Dressed casually in a black polo shirt and jeans, Cruise addressed the crowd ahead of the final, delivering an enthusiastic introduction for the two remaining teams, Spain and Argentina. His trademark sincerity and cinematic presence turned a simple pre-match message into a classic Tom Cruise-style moment.
It was dramatic, slightly surreal and unmistakably a Tom Cruise moment — exactly the kind of unexpected spectacle that suited this World Cup.
10. Post Malone transformed the closing ceremony into a mini concert
Post Malone brought a mix of fresh sounds and familiar favourites to the World Cup closing ceremony.
The singer debuted his new track “Chrome Heartbreaker” before teaming up with Swae Lee for their global hit “Sunflower” from 2018. Staged on a central platform surrounded by visuals inspired by the New York skyline, the performance turned the closing ceremony into a vibrant mini concert.
Alongside appearances from Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and María Becerra, the spectacle strengthened the sense that the World Cup final had evolved into a unique blend of an awards show, music festival and football celebration all in one.
