Ted Lasso and the Muppets surprise in the first World Cup 'half-time show' alongside Justin Bieber, Shakira, and Madonna

The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina not only made history on the field. FIFA premiered for the first time a half-time show in the style of the Super Bowl, transforming the match's break into a major global entertainment event that combined music, television, and popular culture. The gamble brought together some of the biggest international stars and served to broaden the appeal of the match beyond football. 

The recital kicked off with Madonna, accompanied by Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho, before giving way to conductor Gustavo Dudamel alongside the New York Philharmonic. Then came BTS, with Dynamite, and Justin Bieber, who performed an acoustic version of Everything Hallelujah. The final segment featured Shakira and Burna Boy, with the official anthem Dai Dai, culminating in a choral performance led by Coldplay and the PS22 choir. The entire eleven-minute production was directed by Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen for charitable purposes.

One of the most celebrated moments came with the unexpected appearance of Ted Lasso. Jason Sudeikis brought back the popular Apple TV+ coach, accompanied by Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard, to introduce Bieber's performance. The nod was completed with a sign that read BELIEBE, a play on words between the series' mythical Believe and the name by which the Canadian singer's fans are known.

The television finale was provided by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the Muppets, who accompanied Gustavo Dudamel and the Electric Mayhem Band during a version of Seven Nation Army. The legendary characters returned to the stage for the closing alongside Chris Martin and the PS22 choir, reinforcing the educational and solidarity message that FIFA wanted to associate with the premiere of this new format.

The show preceded a final that also broke all audience records. The match's extra time gathered 16,608,000 average viewers and an 89.3% share across La 1, Teledeporte, La 2 Catalunya, and DAZN, becoming the second most-watched broadcast in the history of television in Spain. The full match brought together 15,385,000 viewers and an 86.3% share, confirming the enormous impact of a final that made history both on and off the field.