FIFA World Cup Halftime Show: The untold story behind BTS, Madonna and Shakira’s blockbuster event

The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup could offer football fans something they have never seen before. The championship game will start at MetLife Stadium on July 19 and will feature a star-studded halftime show, with BTS, Madonna and Shakira joining in. The idea can be traced to a single phone call made more than a decade ago, making the moment even more remarkable.The match itself is expected to draw billions of viewers, but FIFA and Global Citizen hope the spectacle will be more than a music event. But beyond the performances is a larger mission: education, global unity and fundraising for children around the world.The roots of the historic halftime show stretch back to 2015, when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin reached out to Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans. The conversation became a turning point in a partnership that would eventually reach one of the biggest stages in sports.Recalling the moment, Evans said, "He said, 'Hugh, I want to work with you and the United Nations to help launch the sustainable development goals," Evans, 43, recalls.That collaboration soon grew into more than a one-time event. Martin helped curate Global Citizen festivals, brought major artists together across multiple continents, and supported campaigns aimed at fighting poverty and improving opportunities for vulnerable communities.Over the years Global Citizen has grown from a festival organizer into a powerful force that could unite governments, companies, activists and entertainers.Evans believes Martin's commitment went far beyond music."Then (Martin) said, 'I'm going to help take this all around the world.'"The singer followed through, supporting initiatives in countries ranging from India to Ghana while using his platform to draw attention to global issues.The idea gained real momentum when Evans and FIFA president Gianni Infantino discussed ways to combine football's unmatched reach with Global Citizen's social impact campaigns. A trial run during the Club World Cup final proved that a halftime performance could work on football's biggest stages.When planning shifted toward the World Cup, organizers focused on a broader question."We said, 'What does the world need at this moment?'" Evans explained.His answer reflected the vision behind the project."We know this is a fractured moment for our planet," he continues. "And so we thought this is the moment to unite the whole planet behind the one thing that everyone agrees on, which is that children should have access to quality education."That mission remains central to the event. A portion of ticket revenue is helping fund educational initiatives worldwide, while performers such as Shakira are also contributing to the cause. Alongside global music icons, family-friendly characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will join the celebration, turning the first FIFA World Cup halftime show into a rare blend of entertainment, football, and philanthropy.As Evans put it, "The great thing about Chris is his heart is as big as his ability to create amazing music and I think that's the heart that he's poured into the halftime show. I think that that's why we're also excited to work together to achieve something bigger than all of us."