Artists including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Coldplay performed at the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina without receiving a performance fee. According to E! News, the musicians reached an agreement with FIFA and Global Citizen to donate potential earnings to charity, specifically supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
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The organizers aimed to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and soccer programs for children worldwide.
Did you know? The performance followed a collaborative format where artists shared the stage across an 11-minute window, a departure from traditional standalone sets often seen in major sporting events.
Staging a Global Production
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin served as the lead curator for the 11-minute spectacle. The show opened with Madonna performing her 2000 hit “Music,” accompanied by a sequence featuring soccer legends Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Ronaldo Fenômeno. The production utilized the pitch as a central stage, with BTS performing their hit “Dynamite” and Justin Bieber delivering an acoustic rendition of “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH,” introduced by Ted Lasso actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt.
Shakira, representing the tournament’s official soundtrack, performed the song “Dai Dai” alongside Burna Boy. The event concluded with Coldplay, the PS22 Chorus, and the Muppets performing an original track titled “We Dance.” The performance included a recorded speech from Pelé, serving as a tribute to the late Brazilian football icon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Did the artists get paid for their performance at the World Cup final? No. According to E! News, the artists performed for free as part of an agreement to donate the value of their services to charity.
- Where did the money for the FIFA charity initiative come from? The initiative, organized with Global Citizen, allocated $1 from every ticket sold to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
- Who curated the halftime show? Coldplay’s Chris Martin was responsible for the curation of the 11-minute performance.
Pro tip: Follow our coverage of global sporting events to stay updated on how entertainment and social impact continue to intersect in the world of professional soccer.
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