New York New Jersey Stadium hosts first World Cup final halftime show

By Aditya Rao — 19 July 2026 — 4 min read

The FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show made its debut at the New York New Jersey Stadium, marking a significant moment in the tournament’s history. This event, which featured a lineup of international artists, was the first of its kind in the World Cup‘s 96-year history. The performance was curated by Coldplay‘s Chris Martin and produced in collaboration with Global Citizen, extending the usual 15-minute halftime break to 30 minutes to accommodate the show.

Among the performers were BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Burna Boy. They were joined by The Muppets’ Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic, Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, and PS22. The show took place during the championship match between Spain and Argentina.

BTS performance and historical ties

BTS, fresh from the European leg of their World Tour ARIRANG concerts, delivered a 1:45 performance of their hit song, “Dynamite.” The group, consisting of members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, wore custom ARIRANG-red World Cup outfits that displayed their names and the number 7, representing the seven members. Despite the 28°C and humid weather, and having arrived from Paris the night before, the group performed with energy. “Dynamite” was their first No. 1 on the Hot 100 charts and earned them their first Grammy nomination in 2020. During their performance, over two dozen dancers accompanied them, and screens displayed the lyrics, encouraging crowd participation. Following PS22‘s final performance, BTS rejoined the other artists on the field to dance to an unreleased Coldplay track.

BTS has a history with football, both as fans and participants in FIFA-related events. In 2022, they collaborated with Hyundai for the “Goal of the Century” campaign song and music video for the tournament in Qatar. Jung Kook also became the first South Korean artist to perform at World Cup events, delivering the official track “Dreamers” at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. The group is scheduled to perform the North American leg of their World Tour ARIRANG at the same venue, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, on August 1 and 2.

Closing ceremony highlights

The World Cup closing ceremony itself featured a pre-match concert designed for television, though its broadcast presentation faced challenges with empty seats visible in wide shots. A drumline and break dancers performed around a circular stage shaped like a football, with models of New York landmarks such as Washington Square Arch and the Vessel rising around it. Pyrotechnics added to the spectacle, but the overall stage presence did not always translate effectively on screen.

IShowSpeed, an American streamer, brought considerable energy to the pre-game show. He performed “World Cup (Champions),” catching and kicking a golden football while dancers performed around him. His enthusiasm was evident throughout the World Cup, with streams showing him attempting to communicate with supporters in their own languages. Other performers, including Post Malone and Swae Lee, appeared to perform over pre-recorded vocal tracks, a common practice in large stadium shows where choreography and broadcast timing are prioritised. Post Malone performed “Chrome Heartbreaker” in denim, followed by Swae Lee performing “Sunflower” with dancers in multi-coloured tracksuits. The audience around the stage during these performances seemed more focused on finding their seats than engaging with the show.

The ceremony gained momentum after Jennifer Hudson performed the US national anthem to a full crowd. Following this, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger performed the FIFA anthem, “Desire.” All three artists wore blue, with Williams in a bedazzled Adidas tracksuit. Men carrying FIFA flags marched towards the stage, and flags of the 48 participating nations surrounded the singers, waving in time with the music. The performers embraced as fireworks lit up the sky, eliciting cheers from the now-full stadium.

Tom Cruise then appeared alone on the pitch, dressed in a black polo shirt. He delivered a speech tracing the tournament from its 48 starting nations to the finalists, Spain and Argentina, whose names he pronounced in Spanish to the crowd’s applause. Cruise emphasized football as a universal language that unites people and turns strangers into friends. He concluded by asking the crowd to celebrate the tournament for bringing the world together, stating, “This is football. This is unity. And this is greatness.” While the language was familiar, Cruise‘s delivery was noted for its conviction, and he effectively engaged the crowd. The stronger closing segment helped to improve the ceremony’s overall impression after an opening that faced challenges with empty seats and filming issues.

Source: forbes.com