FIFA staged the first-ever World Cup halftime show during this year's final, adding a new element to the tournament's traditions and turning the interval into a major television and cultural event. Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the 11-minute performance was expected by organisers to become one of the most-watched moments in sporting broadcast history.

The show featured a broad international line-up including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS, alongside pop artist Ava Max performing her track "Energy". The initiative divided opinion within the music industry, drawing criticism from figures such as Robert Smith of The Cure over FIFA's creative direction, while the final itself was also notable for the involvement of young Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal.