The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, presented by Panini, made history yesterday, bringing together an international lineup of superstars who captivated audiences worldwide, while advancing the opportunity for millions of children to receive access to quality education.
The first-of-its-kind halftime show, produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, showcased the power of music to unite cultures and drive meaningful change, and was viewed live around the world.
The spectacular show featured artists representing five continents, all of whom donated their time for free, demonstrating music’s unique ability to transcend borders and unify the world. Colombian superstar J Balvin brought Latin energy to the global stage, while Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Tems showcased the vibrant sounds of West Africa. GRAMMY-winning American artist Doja Cat delivered an electrifying performance that had the MetLife Stadium crowd on their feet, and Coldplay joined the show for a surprise performance of the band’s hit ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’, featuring a guest appearance from Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly.
Against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, the first halftime show at a FIFA event was staged high above the pitch among MetLife Stadium’s upper level seats. A dedicated platform and innovative set design built into the stadium's stands provided the impressive crowd with a spectacular show, while also ensuring the pitch remained preserved for the historic match.
“Today we witnessed something truly historic – artists representing the Americas, Africa, Europe and Oceania coming together on football’s biggest stage for the first ever FIFA halftime show,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. “This international lineup perfectly embodied the idea that music and football can unite the world, and when we take action together, we can make an outsized impact to help children around the world access quality education.”
Broadcast live and for free on DAZN.com, the halftime event was created as part of a four-year partnership between FIFA and Global Citizen to help improve access to football and quality education for children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Together, FIFA and Global Citizen aim to raise USD $100 million for quality education access worldwide. So far, $10 million has been raised to support literacy, reading, and writing programs. This funding is expected to reach over 150 communities and impact the lives of 10,000 children.
This historic performance marks the beginning of an innovative FIFA-Global Citizen partnership that will extend to produce the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show in New York New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
The show was produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation, Done+Dusted, and DPS. It was directed by Hamish Hamilton with executive producers Guy Carrington, Hamish Hamilton, and Dave Meyers.
