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Global music icons Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber joined forces with the beloved characters of The Muppets on Sunday to light up the first-ever World Cup final halftime show.
Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the star-studded entertainment spectacle at MetLife Stadium transformed the traditional soccer intermission between Spain and Argentina into a 27-minute cultural extravaganza, aiming for a massive global broadcast audience of two billion viewers.
The high-energy performance blended pop spectacles with diverse entertainment, kicking off with soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho driving Madonna into the stadium.
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The fast-paced show featured dynamic sets from Bieber and Shakira, alongside a surprise appearance by the cast of Ted Lasso.
The nostalgic arrival of The Muppets and Sesame Street characters alongside a New York school choir provided a vibrant finale to the stadium performance.
The entertainment blowout doubled as a massive fundraising vehicle, driving total revenues past $60 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Ticket sales, corporate sponsors, and private donations fund the initiative, which aims to secure $100 million to expand sports and education access for underprivileged youth globally.
Organisers have already designated 58 community groups across nations like Ghana and South Africa to receive immediate grants.
