The first-ever World Cup final halftime show packed Madonna, BTS, Shakira, a Muppet orchestra, and a seven-nation symphony into a breakneck segment that was as uneven as it was historic.
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The first-ever World Cup final halftime show packed Madonna, BTS, Shakira, a Muppet orchestra, and a seven-nation symphony into a breakneck segment that was as uneven as it was historic.
Spain’s overtime victory capped the 2026 final, but the inaugural official halftime spectacle — and the Cure’s quick dismissal — stole some attention.
FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show threw together Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and more in a frantic 11-minute set that tried to be the Super Bowl but landed somewhere between a charity telethon and a fever dream.
The Colombian singer’s fund directs half a million toward classroom support for children affected by the June disaster, with a broader aid campaign also enlisting Hugh Jackman, John Legend, and others.
Spain’s High Court acquitted Shakira on one set of tax fraud charges and ordered the government to return a $64 million fine. The ruling resolves a decade-old dispute but leaves her legal record mixed.
The 2026 final in New Jersey introduces an 11-minute performance block, and the lineup says a lot about the tournament’s global ambitions. A new Madonna album, a BTS return, and a Shakira song in Italian for a country that didn’t qualify.
The Swedish pop artist’s upcoming deluxe album features a notable list of collaborators, set for release in May.
The global pop star performed two tracks, including her new Shakira collaboration, during a historic appearance on the NBC show.
The pop star’s “Shakira Stadium” run in Madrid will now encompass multiple dates through the summer, expanding into a full European residency.
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