Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber Perform at Colourful World Cup Half-Time Show
The World Cup final half-time show featured performances by Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and more, lasting 27 minutes and 22 seconds — the longest in tournament history, drawing both praise and criticism.
Pop giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber performed for thousands of spectators at the World Cup final in a half-time show that rivaled the Super Bowl. The show ran 27 minutes and 22 seconds, making it the longest in World Cup history, sparking controversy as IFAB rules state players are entitled to a maximum 15-minute stoppage.
Madonna sang her hit "Music," appearing from tunnels under the arena, joined by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Colombian star Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage to perform their collaboration "Dai Dai," a global chart hit that has been a fixture in stadiums throughout the tournament. K-pop supergroup BTS made their comeback from a three-year music hiatus to complete mandatory military service in South Korea. Justin Bieber played guitar during his segment.
Earlier, the closing ceremony featured Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem and a speech from actor Tom Cruise about football's power to unite people. Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Italian singer Laura Pausini performed together, while Post Malone performed his hit "Wow." Streamer IShowSpeed took the field first alongside drummers and dancers.
Celebrities spotted in the crowd included Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and Anya Taylor-Joy with her husband. Former England player Wayne Rooney, part of the BBC commentary team, gave his instant reaction: "I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap." Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also attended alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
