FIFA World Cup History: Madonna, Shakira, and BTS Break 96-Year Tradition

The FIFA World Cup final will break a 96-year tradition on July 19, featuring an 11-minute halftime show headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber. The event, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will be broadcast to 1.5 billion viewers, potentially surpassing the 2022 Qatar final's record. The show, aimed at raising $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, will include performances by Burna Boy and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Shakira, who performed the 2026 World Cup anthem 'Dai Dai' with Burna Boy at the opening ceremony, becomes the only artist to perform at both the tournament's start and finale. BTS, returning after mandatory military service, will deliver their largest live audience performance since their post-enlistment comeback. The show, featuring characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, underscores the global reach of football through a fusion of music from the US, Latin America, and Korea. Viewers in the US can watch on Fox Sports and Fox, while Spanish-language audiences can tune in via Peacock. How Will Markets React?