Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Shakira showcased snippets of their popular hits during the World Cup’s first halftime show on Sunday, featuring an eclectic mix of performances that included Burna Boy, Ted Lasso, and a vibrant ensemble of Muppets. The show, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, aimed to infuse the World Cup with the high-energy entertainment typically associated with the Super Bowl, offering an action-packed 11-minute spectacle with multiple headliners compared to the usual single-act halftime shows seen in American football.
Madonna kicked off the show with a rendition of her 2000 dance-pop anthem “Music,” accompanied by former Brazilian soccer stars Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The performance began in a roller rink setting before Madonna made a grand entrance into the stadium on a dune buggy, belting out the iconic lyrics “Music makes the people come together.”
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra in a rendition of The White Stripes’ hit “Seven Nation Army,” while the Muppets’ house band, featuring the lively drummer Animal, provided a whimsical backdrop. K-pop sensation BTS took the stage in striking red and black outfits, delivering a dynamic performance of their smash hit “Dynamite.”
Promoting the upcoming season of “Ted Lasso,” Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, in character, hyped up Justin Bieber, who then captivated the audience with a soulful rendition of “Everything Hallelujah” accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Shakira and Burna Boy closed the show with their official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” with Shakira donning a vibrant yellow and pink feathered dress and leading a spirited performance alongside a group of dancers.
The halftime show culminated in a heartwarming performance by the PS22 Chorus, a group of elementary school students from Staten Island, backed by Dudamel and featuring a star-studded lineup including Chris Martin, Shakira, and beloved Muppets and “Sesame Street” characters. The event showcased the talents of Dudamel and a group of musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, whose music was pre-recorded earlier at the Manhattan Center.
In the closing ceremony, Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, and others delivered a series of anthems, with Post Malone debuting a new song, “Chrome Heartbreaker,” and performing his hit track “Sunflower” alongside Swae Lee. Hollywood star Tom Cruise delivered a heartfelt speech, celebrating the tournament’s ability to unite people from around the world.
Live renditions of national anthems, including Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Maria Becerra’s soulful performance of Argentina’s “Himno Nacional Argentino,” added a touch of grandeur to the ceremony, culminating in a memorable and diverse showcase of global talent and unity.