New york: K-pop supergroup BTS will perform at the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, organizers said Thursday, along with global pop icons Madonna and Shakira. The South Korean group will co-headline the Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, according to FIFA and Global Citizen, a New York-based international civic group.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this will be the first time a halftime show is staged during a World Cup final. The initiative aims to create a unifying moment for worldwide audiences by bringing together sports, music, and culture on a global stage, they said. BTS expressed their honor in participating, emphasizing the universal language of music in delivering hope and unity.

Global Citizen will produce the show, which is expected to help boost global awareness and fundraising for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This initiative aims to expand education and sports access for children in underserved communities. The performance will be broadcast live worldwide and curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also set to appear.

BTS has previously collaborated with Global Citizen, performing at Global Citizen Live in 2021, while member Jungkook appeared at the Global Citizen Festival in 2023. He also performed "Dreamers," the official soundtrack of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, at the tournament's opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, the seven-member group will hold concerts at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California, on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday (U.S. time), becoming the first Korean act to hit the venue.