The 2026 World Cup final just made history. For the first time ever, soccer’s biggest tournament featured an official halftime show during the championship match between Spain and Argentina, and it didn’t hold back. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the 11-minute performance packed in some of the biggest names in music: Madonna opened the show riding a dune buggy while performing “Music” alongside Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, BTS delivered “Dynamite,” Shakira and Burna Boy performed the tournament’s official anthem, and somehow the Muppets got involved too. Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, and Robbie Williams rounded out an ensemble that felt less like a typical halftime show and more like an awards ceremony finale.
What made this moment even bigger was the production surrounding it. Jennifer Hudson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a pristine patriotic white suit, while Argentina’s María Becerra performed the “Himno Nacional Argentino” in a flowing flag-inspired dress. For the first time in World Cup history, national anthems were performed live instead of pre-recorded. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra backing the performances, and actor Tom Cruise delivered a genuinely heartfelt closing ceremony speech about how the tournament brought the world together. It was the kind of moment that reminded everyone why the World Cup matters beyond the 90 minutes of play.
For those of us who appreciate quality entertainment—whether it’s catching a show at the Ringling, following our spring training baseball teams, or just enjoying an evening on the beach here on the Suncoast—this halftime show demonstrated what happens when global sports meets global entertainment at the highest level. The question now is whether this becomes a permanent fixture at future World Cups. What was your favorite moment from the performance?
