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2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show and match analysis

By The Media Fact Checker teamUpdated Yesterday4 articles from 4 sources

Consensus Summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final introduced a halftime show featuring global superstars like Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, and the Muppets, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The show lasted between 25 to 30 minutes according to the Guardian, but The Age and SMH reported it lasted 27 minutes and 22 seconds. Madonna performed a mashup of her 2000 hit *Music* with elements of 1976’s *Disco Inferno* and her 2025 album *Confessions II*, while Justin Bieber sang *Everything Hallelujah* from his 2025 album *Swag II*. Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official FIFA World Cup song *Dai Dai*, and BTS delivered a high-energy *Dynamite* performance. The Muppets, including Kermit and Miss Piggy, performed *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel and orchestral musicians, while Post Malone and Swae Lee also appeared in The Age and SMH reports. The show included performances by kids choirs, dance troupes, and surprise appearances by actors like Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt. Critics like Wayne Rooney and Liam Gallagher expressed mixed reactions, with Rooney calling it 'crap' and Gallagher comparing it to 'a bad trip'. The halftime show was curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and included performances by Jennifer Hudson singing *The Star-Spangled Banner* and Tom Cruise delivering a monologue about football uniting people. The match itself was between Spain and Argentina, with fans predicting Spain’s victory by scores of 3-2 or 3-0.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • The halftime show lasted 25 to 30 minutes, with 11 minutes for the actual performance and the rest for setup/teardown
  • The halftime show had an 11-minute time limit but exceeded it by about 30 seconds
  • Madonna performed at the halftime show, including a mashup of her song *Music* (from her 2000 album) with elements of *Disco Inferno* (1976) and *Danceteria* (from her 2025 album *Confessions II*)
  • Justin Bieber performed *Everything Hallelujah* from his 2025 album *Swag II* during the halftime show
  • Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official FIFA World Cup song *Dai Dai* together at the halftime show
  • The Muppets performed *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel and orchestral musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
  • BTS performed *Dynamite* during the halftime show
  • Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt introduced Justin Bieber during the halftime show
  • The halftime show included a kids choir (PS 22 Chorus) and a dance troupe (Ghetto Kids)
  • The match was between Spain and Argentina, with Spain predicted to win 3-2 or 3-0 by fans
  • The halftime show was held at the New York New Jersey Stadium
  • The halftime show was introduced in 2026 for the FIFA World Cup final
  • The halftime show included a performance by the PS 22 Chorus (cute kids from a local school)
  • The halftime show featured a performance by Emmanuel Kelly, an Australian singer-songwriter
  • The halftime show included a rendition of *We Dance*, an original song written by Coldplay for the occasion, performed by the Muppets
  • The halftime show was curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay
  • The halftime show included a performance by Gustavo Dudamel conducting musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
  • The halftime show included a performance by Kermit and Miss Piggy from the Muppets
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna in a car driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira, Burna Boy, and the Ghetto Kids dance troupe
  • The halftime show included a performance by Justin Bieber singing *Everything Hallelujah* with an acoustic guitar
  • The halftime show included a performance by BTS in leather outfits performing *Dynamite*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini singing *Desire*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Jennifer Hudson singing *The Star-Spangled Banner*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise delivering a monologue about football uniting people
  • The halftime show included a performance by Post Malone and Swae Lee performing *Chrome Heartbreaker* and *Sunflowers*

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

The Guardian
  • Messi was mentioned as being 56 years old during the halftime show
  • The halftime show was compared to England's 6-4 victory over France from yesterday
  • The halftime show included a 90-second performance by Justin Bieber
  • A fan named Katy, 18, predicted a 3-2 win for Spain, noting she was two years old the last time Spain won the World Cup (2016)
  • A fan named Miguel Hinojal Vicente, 37, recalled Spain's last World Cup triumph as magical
  • A fan named Raquel Garcia predicted a 3-0 win for Spain with two goals in the first half and one in the second
  • The halftime show was criticized for potentially causing player injuries due to extended inactivity
  • The halftime show included a performance by Kermit and Miss Piggy from the Muppets
  • The halftime show included a performance by a kids choir from Staten Island
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy with cute kids dancing
  • The halftime show included a performance by Chris Martin curating the show alongside Gustavo Dudamel and orchestral musicians
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna and Burna Boy with a kids choir and dance troupe
  • The halftime show included a performance by Justin Bieber singing for about 90 seconds
  • The halftime show included a performance by BTS performing *Dynamite* with no Animal on drums
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna on a car driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
  • The halftime show included a performance by Jennifer Hudson singing *The Star-Spangled Banner* with a delayed start
  • The halftime show included a performance by Bruce 'Let’s Get Ready To Rumble' Buffer yelling loudly
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy performing the official FIFA World Cup song *Dai Dai*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Gustavo Dudamel, musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, dance troupe Ghetto Kids, Emmanuel Kelly, and PS 22 Chorus
ABC News
  • Madonna’s performance included a mashup of *Music* (2000), *Disco Inferno* (1976), and *Danceteria* (2025)
  • The halftime show was introduced in 2026 for the FIFA World Cup final
  • Madonna made her entrance in a dune buggy driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
  • BTS performed *Dynamite* in leather outfits
  • The halftime show included a performance by Emmanuel Kelly, who rose to fame on *The X Factor*
  • The halftime show included a performance by The Muppets performing *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel and orchestral musicians
  • The halftime show included a performance by The Muppets performing *We Dance*, an original song written by Coldplay
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy performing *Dai Dai* with the Ghetto Kids
  • The halftime show included a performance by Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini singing *Desire*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Jennifer Hudson singing *The Star-Spangled Banner*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise delivering a monologue about football uniting people
  • The halftime show included a performance by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt introducing Justin Bieber
  • The halftime show included a performance by Justin Bieber singing *Everything Hallelujah* from his 2025 album *Swag II*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna singing *Music* from her 2000 album
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy performing the official FIFA World Cup song *Dai Dai*
  • The halftime show included a performance by The Muppets performing *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel and orchestral musicians
The Age
  • The halftime show lasted a record 27 minutes and 22 seconds
  • Madonna opened the show singing *Music* from an underground rollerskating rink
  • The halftime show included a performance by Post Malone and Swae Lee performing *Chrome Heartbreaker* and *Sunflowers*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise dressed like a backstage roadie delivering a monologue
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna in a car driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
  • The halftime show included a performance by BTS in all red performing *Dynamite*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Justin Bieber singing *Everything Hallelujah* with an acoustic guitar
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy performing *Dai Dai*
  • The halftime show included a performance by The Muppets performing *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel
  • The halftime show included a performance by Post Malone in a cowboy hat and tight Canadian tuxedo
  • The halftime show included a performance by Swae Lee performing *Sunflowers*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise announcing the teams as 'Espana y Argentina'
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna, Justin Bieber, and the Muppets
Sydney Morning Herald
  • The halftime show lasted a record 27 minutes and 22 seconds
  • Madonna opened the show singing *Music* from an underground rollerskating rink
  • The halftime show included a performance by Post Malone and Swae Lee performing *Chrome Heartbreaker* and *Sunflowers*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise dressed like a backstage roadie delivering a monologue
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna in a car driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
  • The halftime show included a performance by BTS in all red performing *Dynamite*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Justin Bieber singing *Everything Hallelujah* with an acoustic guitar
  • The halftime show included a performance by Shakira and Burna Boy performing *Dai Dai*
  • The halftime show included a performance by The Muppets performing *Seven Nation Army* with Gustavo Dudamel
  • The halftime show included a performance by Post Malone in a cowboy hat and tight Canadian tuxedo
  • The halftime show included a performance by Swae Lee performing *Sunflowers*
  • The halftime show included a performance by Tom Cruise announcing the teams as 'Espana y Argentina'
  • The halftime show included a performance by Madonna, Justin Bieber, and the Muppets

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The Guardian states the halftime show lasted 25 to 30 minutes with 11 minutes for the actual performance, while The Age and SMH state it lasted a record 27 minutes and 22 seconds
  • The Guardian mentions Messi being 56 years old during the halftime show, but this is not mentioned in any other source
  • The Guardian mentions a fan named Katy, 18, predicting a 3-2 win for Spain, but this is not mentioned in any other source
  • The Guardian mentions a fan named Miguel Hinojal Vicente, 37, recalling Spain's last World Cup triumph as magical, but this is not mentioned in any other source
  • The Guardian mentions a fan named Raquel Garcia predicting a 3-0 win for Spain, but this is not mentioned in any other source
  • The Guardian mentions a 90-second performance by Justin Bieber, while ABC and The Age/SMH mention a longer performance of *Everything Hallelujah*

Source Articles

GUARDIAN

World Cup final: Trump, half-time show and everything but the football – live

White House confirms Trump will attend World Cup final Shakira, Madonna and BTS headline first half-time show World Cup final liveblog: all the football | Mail Tom Streamer IShowSpeed, probably more famous than 98% of the players at this World Cup, is performing too. It’s probably not even watching the match now that he’s been on. Post Malone has rocked up to perform at the closing ceremony, which is now taking place. Swae Lee joins him for toe tapper Sunflower. Continue reading...

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ABC

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THEAGE

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The first World Cup Final half-time show ever was … something.

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SMH

‘Like a bad trip’: Oasis legend joins roast of World Cup final half-time show

The first World Cup Final half-time show ever was … something.

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