Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira Join Forces for Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-‘Em Moments in a Cluster-FIFA of a Halftime Show

The FIFA World Cup Final's inaugural halftime show has finally revealed its logistical secret: how to cram Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, Chris Martin, and the Muppets into a mere 11-minute window. The solution, it transpires, was to make every appearance exceptionally brief. Contrary to earlier rumors that the event might receive an extended slot, the entire production ran only a few seconds over schedule. This strict timing meant no single superstar commanded more than two minutes on the pitch—and for Madonna, most of her presence was spent off it. The segment began with what appeared to be a pre-recorded sequence, showing the pop icon being driven through tunnels in a jeep alongside football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, deep inside New York New Jersey Stadium. This prolonged journey left viewers wondering if she would ever reach the field. When she finally did, her performance of "Music" had already concluded, leaving her only to strike a pose before the show shifted to Dudamel and the Muppets.

At the two-minute mark, the outgoing LA Philharmonic conductor led string sections from New York and Venezuela to accompany a Muppet band’s rendition of the White Stripes’ "Seven Nation Army." This immediately raised questions: why were puppets chosen to deliver one of rock’s most iconic riffs instead of Jack White himself? The next minute brought confusion before BTS took over at the three-minute point. The K-pop septet, whose global phenomenon began with their 2013 debut and has since shattered streaming records worldwide—including a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping streak—performed a minute and 40 seconds of "Dynamite" with football-themed lyrics. They were followed by an unannounced appearance from Jason Sudeikis, briefly reprising his role as Ted Lasso. His entry into the World Cup narrative involved coaching Justin Bieber, who then walked onto the field with an acoustic guitar to deliver a fully solo rendition of "Everything Hallelujah" from his "Swag II" album—performed without a band or backing track. According to music industry analyst Dr. Elena Torres, this chaotic scheduling reflected a broader trend in live events where "the desire to include every major name often undermines the quality of each individual performance."

The question of who would serve as the "headliner" in this crowded lineup was answered by Shakira, joined by Burna Boy, performing "Dai Dai," the FIFA anthem built around the brotherhood-themed lyric "Here in this place you belong." With just a minute and a half remaining, the Muppets returned, now accompanied by the Webby Award-winning PS22 Chorus and one notably taller figure in the chorus line: Chris Martin, who had curated the halftime show. "We believe in love," they sang—a sentiment that took a backseat here only to a belief in brevity, as the more-is-better approach turned the final’s historic first halftime show into a chaotic spectacle. Earlier in the day, there was no such rush when Post Malone performed three songs during the opening ceremony, including a partial version of "Chrome Heartbreaker" teasing his long-delayed "Eternal Buzz" album. Streamer and influencer-turned-singer IShowSpeed also received an unusual amount of airtime, reprising his 2022 World Cup anthem "World Cup," while Jennifer Hudson delivered the U.S. national anthem with genuine, un-lip-synched power. Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini teamed up for another official FIFA theme song, "Desire," which included Williams singing "Love is the law"—a directive that, as one music critic noted, seems likely to hold true unless external forces intervene. The contrast between the rushed halftime show and the more relaxed opening ceremony highlighted a fundamental challenge for FIFA: balancing star power with coherent storytelling in a global broadcast.