For 96 years, the FIFA World Cup final has observed the same halftime tradition: fifteen minutes of punditry, tactical analysis and players regrouping in the tunnel. On July 19, that changes.

Organizers want the show to be the most-viewed halftime show in history. Having Shakira, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, and BTS will surely help—but do soccer fans want it?

For American viewers of the World Cup final on Sunday, the sport the rest of the world knows as football will closely resemble the one Americans call the same name.

On the eve of the FIFA World Cup final featuring the first halftime show in its history, the Cure ‘s Robert Smith took to social media to slam the historic performance. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff ,” Smith wrote on the Cure’s Instagram account.

The history-making halftime show during Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup final could become the, "most-viewed entertainment event in history," according to the show's organizers. "You're going to want to watch it five or six times because every single second is absolutely amazing,

The FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show keeps getting bigger. Variety has exclusively learned that the event will now also include members of the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony

The July 19 event has already lined up a halftime show that will include Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira.