Football has always held a deeply conservative pride. For decades, the 15-minute halftime break has been an untouchable sanctuary – a time for strategists to battle it out in the dressing room and for spectators to regain their composure after nail-biting moments. However, with the 2026 World Cup coming to North America – the cradle of the billion-dollar entertainment industry – FIFA has decided to play a historic game: “Americanizing” the beautiful game with a halftime show heavily influenced by the Super Bowl.

Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of MetLife, with over 80,000 live viewers and nearly 2 billion people watching on television, as Spain and Argentina were locked in a tense 0-0 draw, the responsibility of igniting the emotions fell to a star-studded lineup. Featuring Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS, the FIFA World Cup had already secured a media sensation in its inaugural halftime show. However, grandeur doesn’t always equate to a great and well-structured show. The 11-minute first halftime show of the World Cup flew by, quickly leaving a lasting impact. For many K-pop fans, just 1 minute and 45 seconds of BTS singing was enough to be a memorable moment, but for viewers who have set incredibly high standards after watching the Super Bowl for years, the World Cup truly had much more to offer.

Four superstars clashed in 11 minutes of chaos.

Transforming the sacred 15-minute halftime break of the beautiful game into a frenzied pop music dream with a Super Bowl vibe is an ambitious move by FIFA. The 11.5 minutes on the MetLife pitch proved too difficult a challenge, to the point that The Cure frontman Robert Smith lamented before the game with a frustrated status update: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH…”. Previously, Robert Smith had publicly criticized FIFA for turning halftime into a show featuring global superstars. The singer emphasized that his disappointment wasn’t directed at the performers, but rather at the football federation’s overly commercialized decision.

The reality has proven the concerns of pure football fans to be well-founded. When cramming a dense list of artists into a tight timeframe, subtlety is forced to give way to the logic of a random playlist running at breakneck speed. Four top superstars, each possessing a huge artistic ego and needing space to shine, are forced to share every minute of a rushed stage.

It all started with Madonna in her signature pink outfit. The Queen of Pop appeared in an off-road buggy driven by two legends, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, blasting the audience with a mashup of “Music” and “Disco Inferno .” Everything was festive, glamorous, deliberately over-the-top, and a perfect 10 for visuals. But just as the audience was getting into the rhythm, the scene abruptly and inexplicably jerked. 

The lawn transforms in a flash, turning into an orchestra where conductor Gustavo Dudamel leads both the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Muppets puppets in the tune of ” Seven Nation Army .” This frenetic combination creates a visually chaotic mess, colorful yet confusing.

Next, the K-pop powerhouse BTS descended like fiery arrows. Dressed in red and black motorcycle-style outfits, the seven boys demonstrated their stadium prowess with sharp choreography, showcasing the “destructive” power of typical K-pop idol aerial kicks. BTS was synchronized (although there were some vocal gaps between members, which can be excused). With their super hit ” Dynamite ,” BTS pushed the energy to a high level, but it was too fleeting. The singing and dancing, lasting less than two minutes, left the audience feeling disappointed, as if they had just taken a bite of a delicious cake only to have it snatched away.

The most contrived plot twist came from pop prince Justin Bieber. Amidst the tense atmosphere of a final match, BTS brought the excitement to a climax only to be abruptly interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Ted Lasso on the sidelines to introduce Bieber onto the field. Justin Bieber had already made a sensation at Coachella, and he arrived at the World Cup hoping to dominate all social media platforms. 

Everywhere Justin appears is spontaneous, and the World Cup is no exception. He doesn’t even dress up, just grabs his guitar and sings so simply that netizens call him a homeless street musician. Justin Bieber just brings his voice to the stadium. Justin sings well, that’s undeniable. But Justin Bieber’s performance was off-key compared to the overall show. Singing an acoustic version of “Everything Hallelujah” live with his guitar , Justin Bieber dragged down the pace of the program. This was a poignant moment amidst a flamboyant party, but it felt out of place and left fans feeling unsatisfied.

The highlight of the entire show once again belonged to “World Cup Queen” Shakira and Burna Boy. Wearing a daring, revealing outfit and going shoeless, Shakira used her signature hip-shaking moves to sweep the stage with her hit ” Dai Dai .” Accompanied by the Ghetto Kids dance troupe from Uganda, this performance truly reached the explosive peak of stadium pop music. Although she had already dominated the World Cup with her opening performance in Mexico, also with “Dai Dai, ” Shakira kept the audience captivated. She used the halftime show to demonstrate to the world why, for the past 20 years, the World Cup has always needed Shakira.

But Shakira’s explosive energy was quickly overshadowed by the chaotic closing act. The PS22 choir, Chris Martin singing his new song ” We Dance ,” the Muppets puppets, and all the other artists rushed onto the stage to form a giant “LOVE” sign. The visuals were stunning, the grand spectacle impressive, but the crowded lawn meant the audience had to squint to spot Chris Martin’s faint dancing in the background.

From beginning to end, the program resembled a fast-forwarded commercial for a highly ostentatious compilation. FIFA brought together its most powerful and iconic lineup, but failed to connect them into a cohesive, conceptual set that conveyed a common message, as the Super Bowl typically does. The halftime show lasted only 11 minutes, with four superstars each showcasing their 1 minute and 45 seconds of individual brilliance, yet each moment faded away, rarely leaving behind any truly artistic moments with a strong personal touch.

But this could be a deliberate act of chaos.

However, if we step back and look at the bigger picture, we must admire FIFA’s groundbreaking move. Transforming a sports stadium into a global mega-concert in its very first attempt is a colossal organizational achievement.

Unlike the Super Bowl, which typically celebrates a single superstar – or a group of stars sharing a similar musical style/story – the World Cup is a battleground for four giants, each with a completely different fanbase. World Cup viewers span six continents. Bringing together Justin Bieber and Madonna (Europe and America), BTS (Asia), and Shakira and Burna Boy (Latin Africa) is FIFA’s perfect solution to the challenge of cultural diversity. No single artist can shoulder the responsibility of representing the entire planet’s popular music scene, and bringing them all together to sing on a globe-shaped stage conveys the overarching message of global unity that the World Cup aims for.

In terms of staging, this was a logistical marvel. With only 7 minutes to set up the stage, FIFA had to “break the rules,” successfully persuading the IFAB to extend the halftime break to nearly 30 minutes to ensure the stage setup and dismantling process. Facing a 2026 World Cup rife with controversy and off-field tensions, FIFA needed a calming remedy. And this star-studded lineup perfectly fulfilled that mission: creating an energetic musical spectacle, captivating enough to distract attention.

As executive producer, Chris Martin strived to understand the superstar lineup and select suitable tracks. For Madonna, it was about creating an iconic performance, incorporating two iconic songs, ” Music” and “Disco Inferno,” into the opening act. 

Before the show, there was much speculation about which song BTS would bring to the World Cup. And currently, it seems the perfect choice is still Dynamite – a fun, energetic song that contains a statement and was a global hit that propelled BTS to become the biggest music group in the world. 

Justin Bieber had many choices besides Everything Hallelujah, and many fans even hoped he would perform one of his old hits. But, Justin Bieber has turned a new page, matured, and healed himself – all told in his double album SWAG released last year. Everything Hallelujah is Justin’s favorite song on the new album, with a meaning of wishing blessings to everyone. Justin Bieber modified the lyrics, directly mentioning the World Cup in his part of the song to wish good things to everyone watching the World Cup. Above all, this choice is truly humane.

And Shakira, of course, has to perform the 2025-6 World Cup theme song – Dai Dai. She opened the show, and now she’s closing the World Cup with a song. After her halftime performance, Dai Dai is predicted to continue its streak of #1 on global music charts, fueled by the hype surrounding the hottest tournament on the planet.

Even if those 11 minutes were chaotic, crazy, or overly packed, successfully establishing the four major powers of world music on the same stage in a football final was an undeniable victory. FIFA may not have had a meticulously crafted halftime show, but they held in their hands a historic event, a spectacular visual feast that no one will ever forget.