FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira and K-pop superstars BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Coldplay’s Chris Martin will curate the show, which is a first for a football World Cup final.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino called it “a historic moment” and “a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world” in an Instagram post. However, the program details have raised concerns about the length of the half-time break, which could exceed the regulation 15 minutes.

The move mirrors the half-time show at the 2024 Copa America final, where Shakira performed. Last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final at the same venue also featured a half-time show that stretched the break.

Infantino also announced plans to “take over” New York’s Times Square on the final weekend of the World Cup. The expanded 48-team tournament kicks off on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The half-time extravaganza will support FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the World Cup.

Last week, Shakira teased the new official World Cup song “Dai Dai,” produced with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The song is set for official release on Thursday. Shakira previously performed at the 2006 and 2014 World Cup finals and created the 2010 anthem “Waka Waka.”

Source: www.aljazeera.com