FIFA introduces star-studded halftime show at World Cup final
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.
- FIFA held its first World Cup final halftime show
- Chris Martin curated 11-minute set with Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Bieber
- Move drew music industry criticism, including from Robert Smith
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The World Cup is football’s biggest international tournament, held every four years and organised by FIFA, the sport’s global governing body. It brings together national teams from around the world, with the final watched by a vast television audience.
Traditionally, the break between the two halves of a World Cup final has been used for analysis and advertising rather than a major live performance. Halftime shows are more closely associated with events such as the US Super Bowl, where music acts perform to both stadium and television audiences.
FIFA’s move brings entertainment figures more directly into a tournament known mainly for football. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, helped shape the programme, while performers included artists with international fanbases; Lamine Yamal is a young Spanish footballer who plays for Barcelona.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the halftime show argue that football has long since become a global entertainment spectacle, and that embracing a big, professionally curated musical moment simply reflects that reality, much as the Super Bowl halftime show has become a cultural institution in its own right. They see it as a way to broaden the World Cup's appeal beyond committed football fans, drawing in new viewers, boosting engagement in markets less steeped in the sport, and giving artists a shared global stage that celebrates diversity through an international line-up. For this camp, a slickly produced interval performance adds value and spectacle without taking anything away from the match itself.
The case against
Critics, including some within the music industry, worry that importing an American-style spectacle risks diluting the traditions and integrity of the world's biggest football occasion, turning a sporting climax into a marketing exercise centred on celebrity rather than the game. They argue that curatorial choices imposed from outside football, however well-intentioned, can feel like a mismatch with the tournament's footballing culture and may sideline genuine footballing rituals and regional musical traditions in favour of globally marketable pop stars. For this view, the final should remain focused on the sport and its own heritage, with any entertainment additions handled with far greater restraint.
Coverage
- The Hollywood Reporter — First-Ever World Cup Halftime Show Is an “Action-Packed 11 Minutes,” Says FIFA Producer
- Rolling Stone — Ava Max Scores: The Pop Star on the World Cup, Her Favorite ABBA Song, and More
- Consequence — Robert Smith Roasts FIFA President Over First-Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show
- The Guardian — God’s will? Destiny? Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, that photo and the World Cup final
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