New Jersey’s final halftime show turns MetLife into more than a soccer venue

A final adds a new stage

MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, adding live music to soccer’s championship event in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The planned production will reach audiences worldwide through a live broadcast from New York New Jersey Stadium. The performance sits within the men’s final program for 2026 viewers.

MetLife receives its tournament name

During the tournament, the venue carries the temporary name New York New Jersey Stadium under FIFA event naming guidelines for the two-state host region throughout the 2026 competition.

The venue stands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the final is scheduled to begin at 3 PM EDT, with the performance taking place during the halftime interval.

Four artists lead the lineup

Justin Bieber joined Madonna, Shakira, and BTS among the four announced co-headliners for the scheduled halftime performance during the 2026 World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The co-headliner lineup represents Canada, the United States, Colombia, and South Korea, bringing artists from four national backgrounds together for the scheduled July 19 program at MetLife Stadium.

Additional performers join the program

Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay are also scheduled to perform during the 11-minute halftime program at MetLife Stadium on July 19 in New Jersey.

Dudamel remains Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela before beginning his New York Philharmonic tenure in September 2026.

Chris Martin curates the show

Coldplay singer Chris Martin will curate the halftime show after serving as curator for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final halftime performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Global Citizen will produce the program with Live Nation and Done+Dusted for the live worldwide broadcast scheduled during the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19.

Fun fact: The first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930, making the country the tournament’s original host for football.

The show has a fixed broadcast window

The scheduled performance will run 11 minutes during halftime, placing the music program within the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The live broadcast will originate from East Rutherford on July 19, carrying the planned show to audiences worldwide during the tournament’s championship event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Little-known fact: MetLife Stadium is one of only two NFL stadiums shared by two teams, a rare setup among professional football venues.

Familiar characters join the event

Characters from Sesame Street will appear alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy, and other members of The Muppets during the scheduled halftime broadcast at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.

Their inclusion supports the program’s education message and its focus on expanding quality learning and football opportunities for children around the world through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

Ticket sales support education

The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund targets $100 million to expand access to quality learning and football opportunities for children through programs operating in communities around the world.

By July 8, the fund had raised more than $50 million, with $1 from every FIFA World Cup 2026 match ticket sold supporting global education and football programs.

Grants reach community programs

The fund’s first grant round selected 27 grassroots groups across 10 countries, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for education and football programs in underserved communities worldwide.

Recipients passed eligibility screening, compliance verification, and due diligence before selection, while monitoring, spot checks, and reporting requirements continue throughout each grant period under the fund’s oversight process.

FIFA partnership backs halftime production

The four-year agreement announced in September 2024 granted Global Citizen production rights for the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium in 2026.

The partnership included the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and continues through joint activities and fan engagement, supporting education and football opportunities for children worldwide through FIFA events.

MetLife hosted an earlier halftime show

MetLife Stadium hosted the FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show on July 13, 2025, with J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems serving as announced headliners in East Rutherford.

Global Citizen produced the 2025 event, while Chris Martin curated the program. Both hold corresponding roles for the scheduled 2026 World Cup final halftime show in New Jersey.

The venue handles varied events

MetLife Stadium, which seats 82,500 for football and soccer, is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, and opened in East Rutherford on April 10, 2010.

The venue has hosted more than 600 major events, including concerts, international soccer, college football, WrestleMania 29 and 35, the Army-Navy Game, and Super Bowl XLVIII since opening.

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Shakira’s song royalties support the fund

Shakira and Burna Boy appear on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song ‘Dai Dai,’ and both artists joined the announced July 19 halftime lineup.

Shakira’s royalties from ‘Dai Dai’ will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, and Sony Music will match the first $250,000 raised through the official song and campaign.

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What stands out more in New Jersey, the World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium or the venue’s growing role beyond soccer? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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