FIFA Finally Got Its Super Bowl Moment – Mostly: Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and more
New Jersey, FIFA finally got its Super Bowl moment. Sunday’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show packed a stacked lineup of global pop stars into roughly a dozen frenetic minutes, and while the ambition was undeniable, the execution was a mixed bag, a night of genuine highlights alongside a few missed opportunities.
The Super Bowl halftime show is the NFL‘s most valuable non-football asset, and Sunday proved FIFA finally understood the playbook: the spectacle sells the sport to people who don’t watch the sport.
An Unforgettable Opening
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The show opened with a flourish that instantly set the tone for the night’s theatrical excess. Madonna arrived on the pitch aboard a dune buggy driven by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, an entrance that leaned fully into spectacle before a single note had played. Once the music started, she leaned on her 2000 hit “Music,” layered against “Disco Inferno” in the background, while Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a drumming cameo from The Muppets’ Animal added an unexpected, almost surreal texture. It shouldn’t have worked as well as it did, but the strangeness became part of the charm.
BTS Bring the Energy
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The South Korean group followed with a tightly choreographed run-through of “Dynamite,” delivering sharp, high-energy dance work that stood out as some of the most polished stagecraft of the night. Given the quality of the performance, many observers felt BTS could have used more time in the spotlight — on pure execution, theirs was arguably the standout set of the show.
Justin Bieber’s Underwhelming Set List
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Justin Bieber‘s appearance, introduced through a playful Ted Lasso-themed segment, was one of the evening’s more debated moments. Rather than reaching for a fan-favorite like “Sorry” or “Baby,” Bieber leaned into his more recent single “Everything Hallelujah,” closing with a tournament-tailored twist on the track. Given his deep catalogue of hits, the choice felt like a missed chance to bring the crowd to its feet the way earlier and later segments did.
Shakira and Burna Boy Deliver
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Swapping in for Bieber, Shakira teamed with Burna Boy for a spirited take on “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official 2026 anthem, a song that had steadily grown on audiences over the course of the competition. Her vocals carried the segment, even if a barefoot performance choice raised a few eyebrows among viewers.
A Sentimental Finale
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The show closed on an emotional high note, pairing Coldplay with the Webby Award–winning PS22 Chorus, a group of elementary school students from Staten Island, for a rendition of a new track called “Believe in Love.” Miss Piggy and Kermit made a sentimental cameo, and Chris Martin, who curated the entire show, brought every performer back out for a group finish as the phrase “believe in love” lit up around the stadium. It was an unexpectedly tender way to wrap up a show built largely on spectacle.
FIFA’s first attempt at a full-scale halftime production delivered exactly what it promised: a star-studded, occasionally chaotic celebration that swung between inspired (Madonna’s Muppets-and-legends fever dream, BTS’s precision) and safe (Bieber’s set list). As a proof of concept for future tournaments, it largely succeeded; messy in places, but memorable throughout.
