Shakira says the FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show with Madonna and BTS will be a “completely different” experience from the Super Bowl, despite the obvious comparisons. Speaking to Billboard News, the singer said that the first-ever World Cup final halftime show is being built around a much larger purpose — unity and children’s education.

“The Super Bowl experience, which by the way, was incredible for me…This time we’re going to be combining the passion for football and music for a good cause.” Shakira said while speaking to Billboard News before saying why the FIFA event would ultimately feel different.

The historic show, set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will mark the first halftime performance ever staged during a FIFA World Cup final. According to Billboard, the performance is expected to run for around 11 minutes and is being curated by Global Citizen alongside Chris Martin of Coldplay.

But according to Shakira, what truly separates the World Cup halftime show from the Super Bowl is the meaning behind it.

Why Shakira says the FIFA World Cup halftime show means more than entertainment?

The idea for the halftime show first began taking shape four years ago during the last World Cup, when Global Citizen approached Shakira about helping create something entirely new for football’s biggest stage. According to organizers, the vision from the start was not simply to create another major performance spectacle, but to build an event centered around global unity.

“We wanted to have a moment where if you look down on planet Earth and you saw this halftime show, you would feel this incredible spirit of unity,” Shakira said, adding that the event aims to highlight the importance of investing in children’s education around the world.

That mission also appears to be resonating with fans already. According to Global Citizen, BTS fans — known as ARMY — raised over $10,000 almost immediately after the announcement without even being asked, helping support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for children worldwide.

The show will also bring together artists already familiar with some of the world’s biggest sporting stages. While Shakira is no stranger to FIFA — having performed at multiple World Cups and recorded the iconic 2010 anthem 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa' — this will mark Madonna’s first major World Cup performance.

Both artists, however, have previous Super Bowl experience, with Shakira famously co-headlining the 2020 halftime show alongside Jennifer Lopez, while Madonna headlined the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show. Lopez herself also has FIFA ties, having performed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, making this latest crossover between football and pop superstardom even more notable.

Do you think the FIFA World Cup halftime show could rival — or even surpass — the Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Aarav Poonia

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui