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Recapping the World Cup in Pop Stardom, Including Shakira, Justin Bieber and ‘Wonderwall’: Greatest Pop Stars Podcast
A new episode of Billboard's "Greatest Pop Stars" podcast reviews the music surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which concluded with Spain beating Argentina 1-0 in the final on 19 July. Host Andrew Unterberger and Billboard UK's Thomas Smith discuss the tournament's musical moments, from the official theme songs to the first-ever star-studded halftime show, reflecting on how pop culture intertwined with six weeks of football.
The pair debate topics including whether the final's halftime show worked, Chris Martin's role in assembling it, Justin Bieber's acoustic performance, and why Madonna and BTS opted for older songs over new material. They also discuss Shakira's "Dai Dai" as a potential World Cup classic and consider whether Oasis's "Wonderwall" gained fresh significance as an England anthem, despite stalling at number two on the UK charts.
In short
- Podcast recaps music at the 2026 World Cup, won by Spain
- Discussion covers Shakira, Bieber, Madonna, BTS halftime performances
- Oasis's "Wonderwall" resonated as England anthem, hit UK No. 2
Explained simply
The FIFA World Cup is football's premier international tournament, held every four years and watched by billions worldwide. Since the 1990s, major sporting events have become increasingly intertwined with popular music, with tournaments commissioning official anthems and staging elaborate musical performances.
The 2026 World Cup, which Spain won by defeating Argentina in the final, featured numerous musical moments across its six-week run. A new episode of Billboard's "Greatest Pop Stars" podcast examines this music, discussing official themes, halftime show performances, and contributions from major artists including Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and Chris Martin.
In recent decades, music has become a standard element of major sporting events. This podcast episode reflects how pop culture and football tournaments are now routinely integrated into global sporting culture, with songs and performances often becoming part of how people remember these competitions.
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