Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Shakira delivered snippets of their popular songs at the World Cup’s halftime show, featuring a star-studded lineup that included Burna Boy, Ted Lasso, and the Muppets. The performance, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, aimed to infuse Super Bowl energy into the World Cup with an action-packed 11-minute show, showcasing a variety of artists unlike the typical single-headliner performances seen in American football halftime shows.
Madonna kicked off the show with her iconic 2000 hit “Music,” accompanied by former Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The performance began with a pre-recorded segment at a roller rink before Madonna made a grand entrance into the stadium on a dune buggy, singing the famous lyrics, “Music makes the people come together.”
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra in a rendition of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” while the Muppets band, including the lively drummer Animal, entertained in the background. K-pop sensation BTS then took the stage dressed in red and black, performing “Dynamite” and paying homage to Norway’s Viking culture.
Justin Bieber, supported by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt in their “Ted Lasso” personas, followed with a soulful rendition of “Everything Hallelujah,” accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Shakira and Burna Boy closed the show with their official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” with Shakira dressed in a vibrant outfit surrounded by dancers, including children, singing an Italian version of “Let’s go!”
The halftime show culminated with the PS22 Chorus of elementary school students from Staten Island, N.Y., led by Dudamel and featuring Chris Martin from Coldplay. The performance, curated by Martin, included appearances by Shakira, numerous Muppets, and “Sesame Street” characters, creating a colorful and lively finale to the show.
In the pre-match closing ceremony, Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, and others delivered powerful anthems, with Post Malone debuting a new song alongside his popular hit “Sunflower.” Tom Cruise delivered a heartfelt speech, expressing appreciation for the tournament’s unifying impact, as live performances of national anthems added a special touch to the closing ceremony, including Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and MarÃa Becerra singing Argentina’s “Himno Nacional Argentino.”
The event showcased a diverse array of musical talents, ensuring a memorable and entertaining halftime show and closing ceremony for the World Cup audience.
