The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show brought together some of the biggest names in pop music Sunday at MetLife Stadium, running 27 minutes and 22 seconds, the longest halftime show in World Cup history, according to BBC News.
Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber all performed. Madonna, who performed her hit song Music, appeared to emerge from tunnels beneath the arena, joined on stage by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited after performing together at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City last month. K-Pop supergroup BTS performed as part of their comeback from a three-year hiatus during which members completed mandatory military service in South Korea.
Among those watching from the stands were Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, as well as Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Not everyone was impressed. Former England player Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC commentary team, gave his instant verdict: "I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap."
The length of the show had already drawn criticism before it aired. International Football Association Board rules state players are entitled to a maximum 15-minute halftime stoppage.
Australian pop singer Emmanuel Kelly made history as the first differently-abled artist to headline a FIFA World Cup Final halftime show, according to ABC News. The show was co-organized by FIFA and Global Citizen, and curated by Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin. Previous World Cup finals had not featured halftime shows; major musical acts had historically performed only during the opening ceremony or before kickoff.
Kelly was born with underdeveloped limbs after his biological mother was exposed to chemical warfare. Abandoned as an infant on a battlefield in Iraq, he was rescued by nuns at a Baghdad orphanage. Australian humanitarian Moira Kelly discovered him in 1998 and later adopted him. He moved to Australia two years later, underwent surgeries to allow him to use prosthetic limbs, and became an Australian citizen in 2009.
"Some people told me that the industry, especially in film and television, were just going to pigeonhole me and put me back in this box," Kelly said. "And I was found in a box, so I didn't want to go back in the box. I decided to pursue music instead, because music was a tool for me to tell the world that it doesn't matter what you look like."
Kelly described the atmosphere backstage as one of genuine connection. He recalled a moment during rehearsals when Bieber told him he was sitting in his designated chair.
"I said, 'Brother, I've lost arms. Let's make it happen. Let's go at it,'" Kelly recalled. "And he just laughed his head off, man. It's just love."
On the meaning of the show itself, Kelly was direct. "At the end of the day, it's not about me. It's not about Justin Bieber or Shakira or Coldplay or BTS. ... it's about uniting an insanely divided world," he told ABC News.
Before the halftime show, the closing ceremony included a range of performances. Streamer IShowSpeed took to the field first, alongside drummers and dancers. Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Italian singer Laura Pausini performed together. Post Malone performed his hit song Wow. Jennifer Hudson sang the US national anthem accompanied by a live band.
Actor Tom Cruise then introduced the match from the stage. "From every corner of the globe, we have witnessed greatness, and we have shared in moments of joy," he told the crowd. "Football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people."
Outside of entertainment, Kelly co-founded 0UTLYER, a production company designed to secure long-term employment for disabled and neurodivergent individuals. He also recently spoke at the Palace of Westminster in London to launch a parliamentary group on disability employment.
