FIFA World Cup Halftime Show Breakdown And Easter Eggs

Madonna’s Lucky No. 10

Curated by Martin, the World Cup begins with a graphic of Earth in the galaxy, then zooms in on the New York/New Jersey MetLife Stadium. Underground in the stadium, Madonna’s “Music” begins to play as dancers in roller skates and flashy outfits begin to dance. As the camera pans towards a disco ball with lights imprinted to resemble a soccer ball, it opens on Madonna as she performs a “Music” x “Disco Inferno” mash-up, while riding in an off-road vehicle with the license plate MAESTRO. In the car with her were football (soccer) legends, Brazilian icons Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, best known for their 2002 World Cup win. Before she enters the stadium, her FIFA custom jacket displays her name and the number “10,” which could represent her latest track, “Danceteria,” as her 10th No. 1 song. She enters the field with Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho Gaúcho in tow.

The Muppets & Conductor Gustavo Dudamel

The ground and production are filled with colors, Coldplay’s signature look, with the start of the instrumental of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” with The Muppets’ Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra join them, with dancers and colorful flags surrounding them. Dudamel is wearing a custom pinstripe suit with his name and “1” on the back, looking like a jersey.

BTS’s Portion was Dynamite

The screen then shows the Norwegian team rowing to the drumbeat, with everyone rowing. It then pans to BTS, dressed in their signature ARIRANG red and custom FIFA jerseys, as they perform their hit song “Dynamite.”

“Dynamite” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart back in 2020, the first by a South Korean act, and broke records globally. The screens around them display the song’s lyrics, with the audience loudly cheering them on. Their portion ends with a blast of fireworks. The group had just arrived last night, following their Paris concert on their World Tour ARIRANG.

Ted Lasso and Coach Beard Introduces Justin Bieber

It then transitions to Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) from Apple TV’s hit series “Ted Lasso.” The duo is talking about the game.

“The first half of halftime knocked my darn socks off,” says Ted Lasso. Coach Beard answers with his signature, “Spectacular, BABY!” Lasso continues, “Now how the heck are they going to follow all of that? I know what I think we need, we need some heart. Someone who has some soul. Someone who could bring the love.” They then bring out their next performer like a soccer call: “JB” for Justin Bieber. Above his name, it says “BELIEBE,” an homage to the Lasso’s signature phrase: BELIEVE.

Lasso tells Bieber, who is holding his guitar, “Alright, young man, it’s your big shot. Go out there. No one is watching. Make us proud.”

Bieber walks on the field, singing an acoustic version of his popular single, “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH.” Dressed in a polo with a simple tee over it, he ends the song with “It’s the World Cup, HALLELUJAH.”

Shakira and Burna Boy Brings Out the “Dai Dai” dancers

It cuts to Shakira as she begins to perform the World Cup Official 2026 Song, “Dai Dai,” with Burna Boy. Dressed in pink and yellow sparkles, Shakira is a sparkle of sunshine as she is surrounded by her dancers and the young participants chosen after the “Dai Dai” Dance Challenge, promoted in conjunction with the Ghetto Kids of Ugandawhich she launched weeks ago to invite her followers from all over the world to create their own choreographies for the dance. The dancers, dressed in bright yellow outfits, represent the sunshine from all over the world.

Everyone comes together for LOVE

The video cuts to football/soccer legend Pelé’s iconic “Love, love, love” speech from 1977, in which he famously says, “Say with me three times, Love! Love! Love!” It then cuts to the Webby Award-winning PS22 Chorus – made up of elementary school kids from Staten Island, New York- as they sing Coldplay’s unreleased song, “We Believe.” The kids, dressed in custom colorful FIFA jerseys, are surrounded by the Muppets and Sesame Street characters, as it pans out to Chris Martin, Dudamel, and the orchestra around them, then to Coldplay’s “LOVE” button design, but with the “O” as the Earth. They all sing and dance, as colorful dust explodes out from the stadium. The group is then joined by all the other performers and dancers, including BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy, Justin Bieber, Ted Lasso, Coach Bead, Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, as they all sing and dance. The performance ends with fireworks. What an iconic way to end the first World Cup Halftime Show!