Chris Martin from Coldplay to direct the halftime show at the 2026 World Cup

Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, will be the artistic director of this halftime show, unprecedented in World Cup history and inspired by the American Super Bowl.

For an unprecedented show, FIFA has chosen the biggest music stars. Singers Madonna and Shakira, and the K-pop group BTS will headline the concert organized at halftime of the 2026 World Cup final, the organizers announced on Thursday, May 14th.

The conclusion of this World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, will take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19th. The organizers have decided to draw inspiration for the first time from the famous “halftime show” of the American Super Bowl.

Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay and artistic director of the show, announced the lineup in a video posted on Instagram with puppets from the children’s show “Sesame Street,” including Elmo and Kermit. While this is the first time a concert is organized during the World Cup final, this format was tested during the Club World Cup in July 2025 at the same stadium, significantly extending the halftime break.

The 2026 World Cup, the first to feature 48 participating teams, kicks off on June 11th in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will include three opening ceremonies before the first matches of the national teams of these three countries, which will also feature numerous musical guests. Didier Deschamps is set to announce the French National Team selection on the TF1 news program “20 heures” on Thursday.