There are lineups that make sense, and there are lineups that make you stop scrolling entirely. The inaugural FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium is firmly in the second category.
Madonna. Shakira. BTS. The Muppets.
That is the actual lineup. It was curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay through a brainstorming session that reportedly included Martin sitting down with Elmo, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Animal to develop the concept together. The show is built around raising funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This fund works to expand access to quality schooling and football programs for children around the world. Martin has described it as a chance to show how amazing all kinds of humans are. A sentiment that takes on a certain dimension when the participants include a frog, a pig, and a drummer made of felt.
This is happening on July 19 and it is completely real.
The Halftime Show
The World Cup Final Halftime Show, scheduled for July 19 at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, is a groundbreaking event, marking the first of its kind. This performance is not just significant for the football match it accompanies; it is a historic moment in entertainment. The lineup features two of the best-selling solo artists of all time, Madonna and Shakira, alongside BTS, the most globally recognized music group of the past decade, and the iconic Muppets, beloved figures in pop culture since 1955. This diverse combination creates a halftime show that covers more cultural ground than virtually any other ever assembled.
The charitable purpose behind the show gives it a weight that pure spectacle cannot replicate. Every element of the performance is tied to raising funds for children’s education and access to football programs globally, which aligns naturally with what the Muppets and Sesame Street have always represented at their core.
Sesame Street Is Also Covering the Entire Tournament
While the Muppets prepare for the July 19 stage, Sesame Street is joining Fox Sports for the full World Cup tournament. Which kicks off June 11. The partnership between Sesame Street and Fox Sports is designed to bring younger viewers and families into the broadcast experience through character-driven educational segments throughout the coverage.
The character assignments are perfectly matched to each role. The Count is hosting a dedicated statistics segment. Which is so obvious, it is remarkable it took until 2026 for someone to make it happen. Oscar the Grouch is hosting Trash Talk, a satirical highlight show featuring grouchy moments from on and off the pitch. Grover is appearing in segments where he interacts with Fox Sports broadcasters to explain how a World Cup match is called on television.
Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird will appear throughout the coverage in various capacities across the tournament’s full run.
Zac Kenworthy, Vice President of Production at Fox Sports, described the collaboration as introducing a fun and educational aspect. In the hope that this will encourage families to come together while enjoying the viewing experience. This partnership seems logical and beneficial as soon as you hear about it.
Why This Summer Belongs to the Muppets
From June 11 to July 19, Fox Sports will feature the Muppets and Sesame Street as part of its World Cup coverage. This presence will last nearly six weeks and reach one of the largest sustained global audiences generated by any event.
The United States will begin its tournament on June 12, facing Paraguay. The final match is scheduled for July 19. Throughout this period, characters from Sesame Street will play a key role in how Fox Sports shares the tournament story with American families.
And at the end of it, Kermit and Miss Piggy take the stage with Madonna.
Nobody saw this coming. It is happening anyway. The World Cup is officially brought to you by the letters G-O-A-L.
Source: USA Today
