FIFA's historic first-ever World Cup Final halftime show will double as a fundraiser for children's education worldwide, with global superstars BTS, Madonna and Shakira set to co-headline the performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The show will raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is dedicated to improving access to quality education and football for children around the world.
Shakira is set to release the official song of the World Cup, "Dai Dai," later Thursday. Coldplay's Chris Martin will curate the performance, bringing together artists from multiple continents for the groundbreaking event.
Opening Ceremonies Celebrate Cultural Diversity
FIFA announced that the opening ceremony in Los Angeles on June 12 will feature music acts including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla, with the ceremony beginning 90 minutes before the start of the U.S. match. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement that the opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents "the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become" and that "the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation's rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture, while showcasing the power of music to bring people together across the country."
The opening match in Toronto will feature performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince. In Mexico, opening ceremony headliners include Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
Tournament Schedule and Broadcast Details
FOX broadcasts the entire tournament, with opening matches kicking off on June 11 in Mexico. El Tri hosts South Africa in Mexico City, while South Korea takes on Croatia in Guadalajara. The next day, Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto in Group B, and the U.S. Men's National Team plays its first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles before heading to Seattle to play Australia on June 19 and closing out the group stage against Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25.
The tournament will feature over 100 matches in 16 cities hosting in three countries over more than a month, culminating in a finale in New Jersey. Prior performers at World Cup finals include Carlos Santana and Wycleaf Jean at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, Will Smith at the 2018 finale in Russia, and Davido, Aisha and Ozuna at the 2022 closing ceremony in Qatar.
Why This Matters:
By linking the World Cup's most-watched moment to global education access, FIFA is using the tournament's unprecedented platform to address educational inequality affecting children worldwide. The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund represents an opportunity to leverage the commercial success of the world's largest sporting event for public good, directing resources toward communities where quality education and sports opportunities remain out of reach for many young people. The emphasis on cultural diversity in the ceremony lineups also reflects the demographic realities of the three host nations, particularly the United States, where immigrant communities and diaspora populations have profoundly shaped national culture. As the tournament brings together over 100 matches across 16 cities in three countries, the integration of fundraising with entertainment demonstrates how major international events can serve broader social purposes beyond pure spectacle.