Doja Cat, Tems, J Balvin, and Coldplay played from the upper deck of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with a backdrop of the Big Apple cityscape behind them. The performance was just 52 miles from Manhattan.
As Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain battled on the pitch on a warm Sunday, 13 July, FIFA unveiled its first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, which was produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.
Fans’ attention and necks shifted to the inventive stage design, which seemed to float above the stadium, shortly after the whistle blew after Cole Palmer’s first half masterclass.
The concert organisers wisely switched to the innovative multi-level platform, which was constructed with 40,000 pounds of staging structures, hundreds of feet in the sky to avoid game interruption because of the amount of discourse around the recently planted grass at MetLife.
J Balvin’s moombahton hit song “Mi Gente” kicked off the 15-minute celebration. The Colombian celebrity, dressed entirely in white, was accompanied by drummers and dancers who represented his homeland’s colours.
Tems’ heartfelt song “Love Me Jeje” added an African touch. Before Balvin came back for “Reggaeton,” the Nigerian singer sailed across the stage in a glittering black top and heels and a cold shoulder, all while singing her guitar-tinged classic.
Doja Cat, wearing a shimmering red and blue Adidas outfit adorned with bespoke Swarovski crystals and Samba shoes that seemed like a cross between Sporty and Baby Spice, put the event on full tilt with her inspiring “Woman” song. With “Vie” printed over her midriff, she also hinted at her future album through her clothing.
Regarding the performance last week, Doja told Rolling Stone, “I’m honoured to represent America on this special stage that will unite people from all over the world.” I’m also really appreciative that I can keep helping with global education initiatives by collecting money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The afternoon’s biggest surprise was when Coldplay took the stage for their rendition of “A Sky Full of Stars,” which caused the stage’s background to transform into a rainbow. Australian musician Emmanuel Kelly joined them, hugging Chris Martin and Doja Cat while preaching a message of solidarity.
As supporters held up towels that spell out “love” in a variety of international languages, he said, “I’m so happy we’re here together.” As the first person with a disability to participate during a FIFA halftime show, Kelly created history. The sky was full of fireworks, although they were not very bright because of the bright daylight.
Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, stated, “Today we witnessed something truly historic — artists representing the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Oceania coming together on football’s biggest stage for the first ever FIFA halftime show.” “This global roster exemplified the idea that football and music can bring people together, and that when we work together, we can have a significant impact on ensuring that kids everywhere have access to high-quality education.”
Through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, FIFA and Global Citizen have raised $10 million of their $100 million target to fund children’s education. When the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show visits MetLife Stadium in July 2026, the FIFA-Global Citizen collaboration will continue.
Watch the full halftime show performance below.
