“A Huge Honor!” BTS to Headline Massive Global Stage Alongside Madonna for World Cup Final Halftime Show

BTS is taking the global stage once again! The group will be co-headlining a massive performance alongside pop icons Madonna and Shakira for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show.

According to Yonhap News, FIFA and the international civic organization Global Citizen announced on the 14th that BTS will perform at the World Cup Final halftime show on July 19 (local time) at the New Jersey Stadium in New York, USA.

This marks the very first time a halftime show will be held during a World Cup Final.

FIFA and Global Citizen envisioned this event to create a stage that unites the world by combining sports, music, and culture.

Through their agency Big Hit Music, BTS shared, “It is a great honor to stand on such a meaningful stage shared by the whole world. We believe music is a universal language that conveys hope and harmony. It is even more meaningful to share that message with global viewers and help expand educational opportunities for children through this World Cup.”

Global Citizen is an organization that hosts large-scale campaigns and music events to end poverty, combat climate change, improve global health, and expand education. This performance is expected to help promote the purpose and fundraising campaign of the “FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” which aims to increase access to quality education and sports for children in marginalized areas worldwide.

The halftime show will be broadcast live globally. The show’s curation is handled by Chris Martin of the band Coldplay, and characters from “Sesame Street” and “The Muppets” are also listed as performers.

BTS recently reportedly drew 150,000 spectators over three days during their world tour “ARIRANG” in Mexico.

The passion of Latin American fans also showed in the music market. According to music and entertainment data provider Luminate, BTS’s 5th studio album “ARIRANG,” released on March 20, recorded 739.1 million streams worldwide in its first week. Luminate stated, “This is not only the highest first-week record for an album released in 2026, but also the highest figure since Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl” recorded 1.3 billion streams last October.”

The Mexico City concert sold out all 150,000 seats as soon as ticketing opened. Tens of thousands of fans who couldn’t secure tickets still gathered around the venue to enjoy the atmosphere. When the members visited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the 6th, about 50,000 ARMY gathered like a cloud at the Zócalo Square in front of the National Palace. BTS met with President Sheinbaum and received a commemorative plaque from the Mexican government.

Following this, BTS plans to visit major Latin American countries including Bogota (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Sao Paulo (Brazil) in October to hold stadium concerts.