The final is reportedly set to feature the tournament’s first dedicated half-time show, adding a major entertainment spectacle to football’s biggest occasion. BTS, Madonna and Shakira are scheduled to appear at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curating the programme.
That would mark a significant change in the final’s presentation. Football has long shared space with music and popular culture, but a Super Bowl-style performance during the championship match would take that relationship to another level.
president Gianni Infantino described the planned show as a chance to bring “music and football on the biggest stage in sport for a very special cause”.
BTS already has a connection with the World Cup. Jung Kook performed “Dreamers” at the 2022 tournament’s opening ceremony, but the 2026 final is expected to bring all seven members together.
That prospect has given the group’s global fanbase, known as ARMY, a clear way to turn enthusiasm into action. The reported early donations show how football events can mobilise audiences far beyond traditional supporters, particularly when a charitable mission sits at the centre of the occasion.
Evans also said BTS were taking time away from their global tour to appear on what he called “the biggest stage in history”, linking the performance directly to the education campaign.
As 19 July approaches, the key storyline will be whether the fundraising momentum continues and whether the planned half-time show can balance football’s traditions with a new global entertainment format.