India, May 15 -- T he 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11-July 19) is set to make history beyond football. In a major announcement on Thursday, FIFA revealed that global music icons Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the tournament's first-ever halftime show during the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey, USA). While FIFA tournaments have traditionally featured grand opening and closing ceremonies, this marks the first time the final itself will include a Super Bowl-style halftime concert. The announcement arrived via a playful social media video featuring Chris Martin alongside Sesame Street and Muppets favourites including Elmo, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Martin, who is helping curate the performance, said the show aims to celebrate music, culture and global unity. Produced in partnership with Global Citizen, the halftime segment is expected to run for around 11 minutes. The event will also tie into the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to improve access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. Shakira's inclusion feels especially fitting given her long-standing association with FIFA following the massive success of Waka Waka during the 2010 World Cup. Meanwhile, BTS' appearance marks one of the group's biggest performances since reuniting after military service, while Madonna is expected to bring her signature larger-than-life visuals to the global stage. FIFA had earlier also announced performers for the 2026 World Cup opening ceremonies across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, LISA and Anitta. HTC...