For one unforgettable day, New York City belonged to the world.
Flags waved from every corner of Central Park. Strangers embraced after every goal. Songs echoed across Manhattan while football fans from every continent stood shoulder to shoulder, united by a game that speaks every language.
Then, just across the Hudson River, history unfolded.
As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final reached halftime, football's biggest stage transformed into something the world had never seen before. Music's biggest stars joined forces with legendary athletes, orchestras, children's choirs, and performers from around the globe in the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show — a spectacular celebration that proved the beautiful game can inspire far more than what happens on the pitch.
Together, New York City and New Jersey became the beating heart of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Shakira lights up the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show with a vibrant performance surrounded by dancers. Image: Global Citizen Press
Football's Biggest Stage Became Something Even Bigger
The FIFA World Cup has always been about unforgettable moments. A last-minute winner. A stunning save. A nation celebrating together.
But this year, the tournament added a new chapter to its history.
The first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show was unlike anything fans had seen before. Over 11 unforgettable minutes, global music icons, legendary athletes, acclaimed musicians, and surprise guests shared one stage in a celebration that reached far beyond football.
Madonna made a spectacular entrance through the New York New Jersey Stadium tunnels in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before performing a new version of Music, infused with elements of Disco Inferno and Danceteria.
Moments later, acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel led musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra in a stirring performance of Seven Nation Army, joined by legendary Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi and The Muppets' Electric Mayhem.
The energy shifted again as BTS lit up the stadium with a football-inspired performance of their global hit Dynamite.
BTS electrify the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show with a high-energy performance surrounded by dancers on football’s biggest stage. Image: Global Citizen Press
Then came another surprise.
Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt stepped onto the stage as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard to introduce Justin Bieber, who delivered a powerful reimagining of Everything Hallelujah.
Shakira and Burna Boy followed with the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ song, Dai Dai, joined by Uganda's Ghetto Kids in a vibrant celebration that reflected football's truly global spirit.
Justin Bieber performs with an acoustic guitar during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show. Image: Global Citizen Press
The show reached an emotional finale as the PS22 Chorus, Coldplay, Emmanuel Kelly, Sesame Street's Muppets, The Muppets from The Walt Disney Company, and Adriana Lima came together to debut We Dance, an original song written by Coldplay for the occasion.
As fireworks illuminated the night sky, giant screens invited millions watching around the world to visit BelieveInLove.org, a new initiative launched to inspire people everywhere to participate in small acts of love to help defeat poverty and defend the planet.
The Muppets’ Electric Mayhem join musicians and conductor Gustavo Dudamel during the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show. Image: Global Citizen Press
More Than a Halftime Show
The spectacle was breathtaking.
More than 350 performers representing countries, cultures, and musical traditions from across the globe shared one stage. Every artist donated their time, helping turn one of the world's biggest entertainment moments into something with lasting purpose.
As the final notes faded, the message remained clear: when the world comes together, extraordinary things are possible.
"We set out with a bold ambition: to bring together the world’s greatest artists for what would be the most-watched halftime show in history," said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. "I hope audiences around the world were massively entertained and inspired, and I hope they felt the message of unity and love at its core. Above all else, I hope millions of kids around the world receive access to education for years to come. I look forward to meeting a young person years from now whose life was transformed because the world came together to invest in the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reflected on what the moment represented.
"We promised a truly spectacular and unifying FIFA World Cup Halftime Show, and together with Global Citizen, we delivered. My sincere thanks to the hundreds of talented performers, cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. There is nothing more important than education, and I am proud that we were able to share this message through an epic show while bringing joy and entertainment to people everywhere."
Fifty Thousand Fans, One Unforgettable City
While history was unfolding inside New York New Jersey Stadium, another unforgettable story was taking place in the heart of Manhattan.
More than 50,000 supporters gathered on Central Park's Great Lawn for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Watch Party, creating one of the largest public football celebrations the city has ever hosted.
Families arrived wearing jerseys from every corner of the world. Friends who had never met celebrated together as though they had supported the same team their entire lives. Every goal was met with a roar that rippled across the park.
For one afternoon, New York wasn't simply hosting the FIFA World Cup. It became part of its story. The city showed exactly why football is known as the world's game — because it has the power to bring people together, no matter where they come from or which team they support.
A Victory That Will Last Long After the Final Whistle
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final wasn't only about lifting a trophy. It was also about opening doors for children around the world.
Broadcast live and free across the globe, the halftime show formed part of the ongoing partnership between FIFA and Global Citizen to improve access to football and quality education through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
With USD $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches donated throughout the tournament, the Fund has now raised more than $60 million.
Those resources have already supported 58 community-based organizations in 20 countries, helping improve the lives of 400,000 children through expanded access to education.
The need remains urgent.
Today, approximately 350 million children and adolescents are out of school globally, while 133 million children do not meet the minimum proficiency level in reading and math by the end of primary school.
Every investment in education helps change that reality. And on one extraordinary night, the world's biggest sporting event helped move that mission forward.
When the final whistle blew, champions Spain had been crowned. But perhaps the tournament's greatest victory wasn't measured on the scoreboard.
It was found in the thousands of voices singing together, in strangers celebrating side by side, and in a shared belief that football's biggest stage can do more than unite the world for 90 minutes.
It can help shape a better future for generations to come.