Spain, Argentina and a host of pop stars will try to make the 104th and final match of the 2026 World Cup on Sunday a spectacle to remember.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi will be hoping to inspire the holders and become the tournament’s top scorer.
La Roja’s squad includes 19-year-old Lamine Yamal and former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, as the performers on the pitch prepare for a long half-time break while the music takes center stage in New Jersey.
Justin Bieber will co-headline alongside Madonna, Shakira and K-pop (or K-pop) band BTS at a concert that FIFA says will combine “football, music and social impact”.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The match starts at 20:00 GMT on Sunday 19 July. Here’s how that translates in different regions.
| date | Start time is GMT | at | Pt |
| Sunday 19 July | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 |
Where will the 2026 World Cup final be held?
The match will be held on MetLife Stadium In New Jersey, which has a capacity of about 81,000 spectators.
The stunning venue is home to NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets and will host its eighth Finals game, averaging more than three goals per game.
The competitions held at the stadium included a draw between Brazil, the five-time defending champion, in the group stage with Morocco and a quarter-final defeat against Norway.
France beat Sweden and Senegal at MetLife Stadium, which was the scene of Ecuador’s shock win over four-time defending champions Germany during the group stage.
What time is the halftime show in the 2026 World Cup?
Assuming there are no weather delays, the halftime show should begin shortly after the end of the first half. Here are the earliest times you can start.
| date | Start time is GMT | at | Pt |
| Sunday 19 July | 20:45 | 15:45 | 12:45 |
2026 World Cup halftime show: Who’s playing?
Pop star Shakira is partly responsible for the official song of the 2026 World Cup, Dai Dai, and will be joined by hugely popular Nigerian singer Burna Boy, with whom she is collaborating on the record.
This is the first time a half-time show has been performed during a World Cup final, and the concert was arranged by English band and familiar American stadium-fillers Coldplay.
BTS will return to MetLife Stadium in August for two dates as part of their US tour. “They will be part of a moment that reaches far beyond the pitch,” halftime show producers Global Citizen promised about the performance.
Earlier this week, BTS’ new song, Normal, became the most streamed K-Pop music video in a single day on the platform.
