Sports
Shakira, Madonna, BTS to headline World Cup final half-time show: ‘A busy but alluring blend’
FIFA has announced that Shakira, Madonna and BTS will headline the half-time show during the World Cup final on July 19.
The Athletic reported on May 13 that FIFA had drafted plans to use the MetLife Stadium field during the half-time show of the World Cup final, making the interval for the tournament’s showpiece event on July 19 run significantly beyond soccer’s usual regulations of 15 minutes.
On May 14, FIFA announced via a video posted on Instagram that Colombian singer Shakira, American artist Madonna and South Korean boyband BTS will headline the tournament’s first-ever half-time show. Coldplay’s Chris Martin curated the line-up, in partnership with Global Citizen, the social justice organization.
Shakira, 49, famously sang “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)”, the official World Cup song for the 2010 edition in South Africa. The Colombian singer last week unveiled her official World Cup song Dai Dai, in collaboration with Burna Boy.
At last year’s Club World Cup final at MetLife, FIFA presented half-time entertainment featuring musicians Doja Cat, J Balvin and Tems but the show did not use the field. Instead, the organizers constructed a stage high up in the stands to avoid any impact on the playing surface.
The World Cup final has previously featured pre-game shows but this edition will be the first time in the tournament’s history to involve a half-time show.
‘A busy but alluring blend of sounds’
Analysis from Caoimhe O’Neill
It is going to be a crowded house at the World Cup final for the inaugural half-time show.
Even if deep down I was hoping for a three-hour Bruce Springsteen set to break up play in his home state, I think Madonna, Shakira, and BTS could be a busy but alluring blend of sounds and styles to get us all dancing.
I do feel like a prayer has been answered that we are getting to see the original Queen of Pop performing at the final. Madonna’s surprise performance at Coachella with Sabrina Carpenter recently brought her music to a new generation, playing at the World Cup will do the same. Let’s just hope whatever iconic outfit the seven-time Grammy award winner pulls up in does not go missing as her 20-year-old corset from Coachella recently did after the show.
BTS is the biggest K-pop band in the world (Yuri Cortez / AFP via Getty Images)
Shakira, Shakira. This is the most obvious yet spot-on choice. It is like picking Lionel Messi to start the final for Argentina or Cristiano Ronaldo to take the crucial penalty for Portugal. It gives the fans what they want as we surely get to hear Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, the soundtrack of the 2010 World Cup, live. It has been stuck in our heads for 16 years like the noise of those vuvuzelas and I’m OK with it.
The four-time Grammy winner has a new tune for this World Cup called “Dai Dai” which she collaborated on with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. That is very good news for England Women head coach Sarina Wiegman (a self-confessed Burna Boy fan) as it could mean Burna Boy gets on the pitch at half-time along with seemingly dozens of others.
As for BTS, they are simply one of the biggest, if not the biggest, K-pop groups in the world. They were the first K-pop group to properly break America. Their song “Dynamite” from 2020 debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. To give you an idea of their popularity, it has two billion views on YouTube alone, should you not, like me, have a niece who knows everything there is to know about the South Korean group made up of seven members.
BTS are so famous they recently returned from their hiatus, after members of the band had to complete mandatory military service in South Korea, by streaming their comeback concert on Netflix to a global audience of 18.4 million.
The World Cup final viewers will be a lot bigger than that and I’m intrigued to see how Martin, Coldplay frontman turned half-time show choreographer, is going to get the best out of these much-loved artists and will he or Billy Joel be playing piano throughout?
If you are reading, Chris, my youngest niece says that “Golden” mania is far from over and she wants to hear the global phenomenon song from the movie KPop Demon Hunters at the final. With a quiet show to plan, I’m sure you can squeeze it onto the festival-like line-up along with some Springsteen?
>
Sports
Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua press conference: ‘Fury will try every trick in the book to get to AJ’ | Boxing News
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s first press conference is expected to go ahead in London on Wednesday ahead of their blockbuster heavyweight fight on December 11, and Sky Sports‘ Matthew Macklin has spoken of what he expects when the two British rivals face off….
I think the press conference will be important.
The psychological, mental aspect of boxing is huge. It’s an individual sport – one on one – so if you can get into the other guy’s head and help put him in a negative headspace, you’re halfway there.
Confidence is key. And if someone’s struggling with confidence, if you can put some seeds of doubt in their mind, that’s a real benefit to you.
There’s a lot on the line. A lot of people involved, a lot of money, a lot of pride, a lot of ego, so there’s already cracks appearing left, right and centre.
Fury will certainly be trying every trick in the book.
There will be people there who will try and control things as best they can, trying to make sure that nothing physical happens. But I’d expect Fury to be animated.
Joshua less so. I wouldn’t have said that the psychological warfare was as big a part of AJ’s game as it is Fury’s. I don’t think he’s as well versed in it.
But sometimes not engaging can be good, it can sort of give you the edge – like Carl Froch the second time round with George Groves.
I think he realised that for the first fight he wasted so much energy on things and fell into the traps that George was setting.
I think was it Michael Corleone [in The Godfather III] who said, “Never hate your enemies, it affects your judgment”. And I think, certainly with Froch the first time round, that was a factor.
Ahead of the second fight, he just chose to disengage. So maybe AJ will do similar and choose to not get involved?
I think we’ll get there. I think the fight will go ahead, but I do think there’ll be some twists and turns and bumps in the road on the way.
>
Sports
The F1 Show podcast – Sky Sports | F1 News

The F1 Show podcast from Sky Sports brings you the best Formula 1 analysis, expert opinion and behind-the-scenes stories from the paddock.
Join Simon Lazenby and special guests from the world of F1 and sport, as they react to all the major F1 news and events and answer your questions after every Grand Prix weekend.
Hit follow, subscribe, get involved and strap-in for what’s set to be an incredible season of racing.
The F1 Show podcast – latest episodes
Follow the 2026 F1 season with Sky Sports
F1 is back, with all 22 race weekends live on Sky Sports.
The action kicked off in Melbourne, Australia on March 8 and again runs into December, with Abu Dhabi bringing the curtain down on the first season of F1’s new rules era.
Follow the latest F1 news, see the full 2026 F1 schedule and find out how to watch or stream on Sky Sports F1 or the Sky Sports app. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW TV.
>
Sports
Scotland: Sebastian Pocognoli’s ‘sad’ Hampden debut as he demands Nations League response | Football News
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli admitted his Hampden Park debut left him “sad” as he stressed the importance of winning their next Nations League match.
Jack Hendry’s early red card effectively rendered his home debut against Switzerland a write-off.
They went down 3-0 in their second Nations League match after the Swiss took full advantage of playing the majority of the match with an extra man.
Scotland have failed to score in four successive matches for the first time since 1971, albeit three of their opponents have been in the top 15 of the FIFA rankings.
“I had a warm welcome from the crowd and that made me feel a little bit sad because we wanted to give something back and we couldn’t,” said the new boss.
“Even with 11 men, if we had the bad result, we would have wanted to give something, some emotion, something to analyse, something to give a direction about where we want to go, and we didn’t have the chance to show it and that frustrated me a lot.”
Pocognoli was pleased with his team’s attitude but felt there was little else to take from a match in which a Swiss side that reached the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer were able to flex their muscles.
“Not a lot to say about the game, you know- 80 per cent of the game with 10 men,” the Belgian added.
“Red card, then directly punished from the red card with a free-kick, so probably the worst situation that we can have.
“We should prefer maybe a penalty and to stay with 11 men and to maybe show exactly what we planned for the game.
“We started quite aggressive, front foot, and then after eight minutes, the game plan has to be put to the side and we just see if the team react well or not with 10 men, and they did their best.
“To be honest, they had a great attitude to just stick together, try to have the moment in transition or set-pieces or something, but it never happened because Switzerland is a good side and they didn’t give anything away.”
With just one point and no goals from their opening two Nations League fixtures after a 0-0 draw in Slovenia at the weekend, Pocognoli admits Scotland’s next match in North Macedonia on Saturday has taken on added significance.
“Yeah, it’s important to get a result because it can give a boost to the staff, not only for me but for all the people who worked so hard from the first day,” said the 39-year-old.
“We had a good second half in Slovenia, and eight minutes tonight that we can analyse on some good aspects, but we need also a good performance in Macedonia and the result is important.”
Gunn: ‘We stick together’
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn insisted there was no blame game in the Scotland dressing room after Tuesday night’s defeat.
“He [Jack] tried to apologise to lads in there but the manager was like, that’s football, that happens.
“That’s why we’re a team and that’s why we stick together and no-one’s got to apologise for anything.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t dig deep and get a result.”
“Hopefully, that’s lessons learned, playing the majority of the game with 10 men. Hopefully, we can maybe use that in the future and come out on a positive side.
“That’s two games down and we’ve got two more to finish this camp off.
“We’ve just got to go and react. It’s Saturday night and we’ve got a good squad. Everyone’s ready for their opportunity.”
Scotland’s Nations League fixtures
- October 3 – North Macedonia (A) 7.45pm
- October 6 – Slovenia (H) 7.45pm
- November 13 – North Macedonia (H) 7.45pm
- November 16 – Switzerland (A) 7.45pm
>
-
movies4 months agoSearch For Canadian TV Actor Stewart McLean Now Homicide Investigation
-
Fashion9 years agoThese ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
-
Fashion9 years agoAccording to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
-
Fashion9 years agoModel Jocelyn Chew’s Instagram is the best vacation you’ve ever had
-
Fashion9 years agoEmily Ratajkowski channels back-to-school style
-
Fashion9 years ago9 Celebrities who have spoken out about being photoshopped
-
Anime4 months agoRurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc Manga Takes 1-Issue Break – News
-
Anime3 months agoHIDIVE to Stream English Dubs for The World Is Dancing, The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie Anime – News






