The FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will feature a historic first: a halftime show. Madonna, Shakira, and South Korean boyband BTS will headline the performance, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen. None of the three acts will receive payment, as sources confirmed to The Athletic that all are donating their time. Proceeds will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise $100 million for children's education worldwide.
No Payment for Performers
How much will Shakira, Madonna, and BTS earn from performing at FIFA's biggest-ever halftime spectacle? Zero dollars. This is not unusual in major live events. According to sources connected to Global Citizen, the organization producing the show alongside Chris Martin, the artists are donating their time. Like NFL Super Bowl halftime performers, who also receive no fee, FIFA's World Cup acts follow the same model. Bad Bunny performed at this year's Super Bowl without a paycheck, and Kendrick Lamar did the same in 2025. The logic is simple: exposure outweighs any fee. The 2025 Super Bowl drew 125.6 million domestic viewers, while the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France reached a global audience of 1.42 billion. That is the number these artists are truly playing for.
Artists' Backgrounds
Shakira, whose new World Cup anthem "Dai Dai" drops Thursday featuring Burna Boy, is no stranger to this stage. She performed "Waka Waka" at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Madonna, at 67, is weeks away from releasing her 15th studio album, "Confessions II," on July 3. BTS, midway through an 85-date world tour, is making a full comeback after completing mandatory military service in South Korea.
Extended Halftime Show
FIFA is making a significant adjustment to football tradition to accommodate the production. The halftime show is expected to run for 11 minutes, but staging requirements could push the overall interval beyond the standard 15-minute limit written into the laws of the game. This idea is not entirely new for FIFA. Last year's Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly featured a halftime interval lasting more than 24 minutes. Bringing this concept to the World Cup final marks a major shift for the sport's showcase event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the show "a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, befitting the biggest sporting event in the world." FIFA also confirmed the performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children's education projects worldwide. The challenge now is balancing entertainment ambition with football tradition. FIFA clearly believes the gamble is worth it.
