Madonna, Shakira and BTS did not receive traditional performance fees for headlining the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show, while Justin Bieber was also reportedly booked under the same arrangement.
Bieber joined the lineup nearly two months after the original three headliners were announced, and separate reports said he also performed without a fixed fee.
FIFA and the artists have not released their contracts, production budget or individual expense agreements.
Global Citizen Confirmed Three Headliners Donated Their Time
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El País reported that Global Citizen confirmed to The Athletic that Madonna, Shakira and BTS would not receive performance fees and were donating their time to the social-impact organization.
Bieber had not yet been announced when that confirmation was published. After he joined the show, Athlon Sports, citing Marca, reported that he would follow the same no-fee model.
The report said organizers financed the production and logistical costs rather than paying the artists their standard concert rates. It also mentioned a small rehearsal stipend but did not disclose its value or explain whether each performer received identical terms.
The Show Had Extensive Corporate Support
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FIFA announced shortly before the final that Topps had secured naming rights, making the performance the FIFA World Cup 2026 Topps Final Halftime Show.
The organization also identified ADI Chain, Visa, Bank of America, DoorDash, Marriott Bonvoy, YouTube Music and Kayford Holdings as commercial supporters. FIFA said those companies would be incorporated through branding, promotional campaigns and specific portions of the production.
Marriott Bonvoy supported the appearance of Uganda’s Ghetto Kids alongside Shakira and Burna Boy. YouTube Music received rights to make the full performance available after the broadcast, while other partners were integrated through on-field and digital promotions.
Madonna, BTS, Bieber and Shakira Shared an 11-Minute Set
Madonna opened the halftime show with “Music,” entering the stadium in a dune buggy driven by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel then led musicians from New York and Venezuela through “Seven Nation Army” with the Muppets’ Electric Mayhem. BTS followed with “Dynamite,” before Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt appeared as their Ted Lasso characters to introduce Bieber.
Bieber performed an acoustic version of “Everything Hallelujah,” changing its closing words to “World Cup Hallelujah.” Shakira and Burna Boy then performed the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai.”
The finale featured Chris Martin, the PS22 Chorus, Dudamel and characters from the Muppets and Sesame Street. Although the musical portion lasted approximately 11 minutes, Reuters reported that the full interval reached about 27 minutes while crews installed and removed equipment from the field.
Shakira Donated Her ‘Dai Dai’ Royalties
The halftime show supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer programs for children worldwide.
FIFA said the fund had collected more than $60 million before the final. The organization pledged $1 from every ticket sold across the tournament’s 104 matches.
Shakira made a separate commitment tied to the official World Cup song. Her royalties from “Dai Dai” are being donated to the education fund, while Sony Music pledged to match the first $250,000 raised through the release.