Pop superstars Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the FIFA World Cup final’s halftime show, set to take place July 19 in New Jersey.
It’s the first time the World Cup soccer final will feature a half-time performance, organizers said, calling it a “singular moment” that will be broadcast live around the world.
The show will be curated by Coldplay front man Chris Martin, who announced the lineup in a video early Thursday, taking suggestions on performers from members of the Muppets, including Elmo, the Cookie Monster and Miss Piggy.
“How about Madonna? Elmo loves Madonna,” Elmo said, before calling BTS on speed dial to confirm they would join the party.
“Shakira’s in, and she’s bringing cookies,” Elmo said.
The tournament will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 through July 19, with 48 countries taking part. Host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Houston and Seattle, as well as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Toronto and Vancouver.
The final will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford,New Jersey, on July 19 at 3 p.m.
The acts chosen appear to reflect the global popularity of the game. Colombian superstar Shakira is due to release the official World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” on Thursday, which features Nigerian singer Burna Boy. She has also recorded songs for previous World Cups, including “Waka Waka” from 2010 and “La La La” from 2014.
Pop legend Madonna is set to release her album “Confessions on a Dance floor II” on July 3 and recently appeared with Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella.
K-pop icons BTS made a long-awaited return to the stage in Seoul in March after a nearly four-year hiatus for military service and solo endeavors.
Although halftime shows are a key draw in major sporting events in the U.S., notably the Super Bowl, they are not typical in global soccer. Organizers did not elaborate on the expected duration, but the lineup raises questions about whether it could extend beyond the typical 15-minute window. The International Football Association Board’s “laws of the game” state that the duration of halftime can be changed only with permission from the referee.
FIFA and Global Citizen, an anti-poverty charity, held a halftime show last summer during the Club World Cup final, which also took place in New Jersey and featured Doja Cat, Colombian singer J Balvin and Nigerian singer Tems. That show reportedly extended to 24 minutes.
This year’s show will be orchestrated by Martin, who is Global Citizen’s “international festival curator,” according to the organization. It will be in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, organizers said, which is working to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer for children around the world.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstated the World Cup final’s start time. It begins at 3 p.m. Eastern time, not 8 p.m.
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