FIFA World Cup Halftime Show Aims to Fund Global Education Programs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Global Citizen is using the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show to raise $100 million for global education programs. The event will feature performances by Madonna, Shakira and BTS during the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey. Organizers hope the worldwide audience will support educational access and youth sports initiatives across underserved communities.
FIFA Global Citizen Halftime Show Quick Looks
- FIFA will host its first-ever World Cup halftime show
- Madonna, Shakira and BTS headline the event
- Coldplay’s Chris Martin is helping curate performances
- Global Citizen aims to raise $100 million for education
- One dollar from every World Cup ticket supports the fund
- Shakira released official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai”
- Corporate sponsors already pledged millions in funding
- Critics question affordability and political optics surrounding the tournament
Deep Look
Global Citizen Targets Massive Education Fund Through FIFA World Cup
Antipoverty advocacy organization Global Citizen is preparing for its largest event ever by partnering with FIFA for the first-ever halftime show during the FIFA World Cup final on July 19.
The production, modeled after the Super Bowl halftime spectacle, will feature major international stars including Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
The event is designed not only as entertainment but also as the centerpiece of a major fundraising campaign tied to global education initiatives.
Global Citizen and FIFA hope to raise $100 million through the newly created FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which will support underserved children worldwide through education and sports programs.
Shakira Calls Children’s Education “Most Important”
Singer Shakira, one of the event’s featured performers, said the World Cup offers an opportunity to spotlight issues affecting children globally.
“I hope that on the world’s biggest stage, finally, the importance of investing in education steals the show,” Shakira said during the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York.
She later told The Associated Press that too many children are being ignored globally.
“That should be our first concern,” Shakira said. “I’m so excited that finally we’re gonna use a global event like this one as a platform to discuss what’s most important: kids’ education.”
Shakira also released the official World Cup song “Dai Dai,” featuring Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy.
FIFA and Music Industry Unite for Global Campaign
The halftime show is being curated with help from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and marks a dramatic shift for soccer’s traditional presentation style.
Unlike the NFL’s Super Bowl, halftime concerts are uncommon in international soccer.
Global Citizen founder Hugh Evans said the organization hopes to combine the emotional power of music and sports to drive awareness and donations.
“I’ve always believed that if we can do something so unbelievably positive, it has the potential to unite people at a time when the world needs it most,” Evans said.
Millions Already Raised Through Corporate and Celebrity Partnerships
Organizers announced they have already secured approximately $47 million toward the education fund.
Corporate sponsors including:
- Bank of America
- MetLife
- Cisco
have contributed roughly $15 million combined.
Additional fundraising efforts include:
- Ticket proceeds from The Weeknd’s world tour
- Revenue from Usher and Chris Brown’s joint tour
- Shakira donating 100% of “Dai Dai” proceeds
- One dollar from every ticket sold during Shakira’s US tour
MetLife also pledged to donate $5 for every soccer juggling video shared online using the hashtag #FootworkForFutures.
Ticket Prices Spark Questions About Accessibility
Despite the humanitarian messaging, critics have raised concerns over the enormous cost associated with attending the World Cup.
Tickets for some matches are reportedly selling for thousands of dollars, while travel and lodging expenses continue climbing in host cities.
Some cities hosting World Cup matches have already lowered attendance expectations due to affordability concerns.
Organizers say one dollar from every ticket sold will go directly toward the education fund.
Politics Surrounding FIFA Also Draw Scrutiny
The initiative arrives amid criticism surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s growing relationship with President Donald Trump.
Critics argue that Trump’s immigration policies and recent military actions create a complicated backdrop for an international sporting event promoting unity and global cooperation.
Infantino awarded FIFA’s peace prize to Trump in December, while Ivanka Trump was recently appointed to the education fund’s board.
Evans downplayed the political controversies, describing himself as a pragmatist focused on outcomes rather than ideology.
Education Grants Already Reaching Communities
Global Citizen also announced the first 27 organizations receiving support from the education initiative.
One recipient is Hit the Books, a Harlem nonprofit using mixed martial arts programs to help students gain educational support and mentorship opportunities.
The grants range from $50,000 to $250,000.
Executive director Jhae Thompson said even relatively modest grants can transform programs serving underserved youth.
“What we are really leveraging is the foundation of what a young person needs in order to build character, to build discipline, to build confidence,” Thompson said.
World Cup Seen as Global Cultural Opportunity
Supporters say the World Cup’s global audience creates a rare opportunity to connect people across cultures through both sports and humanitarian causes.
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson noted that the 2026 tournament spans the United States, Canada and Mexico while involving teams from every region of the world.
“You start thinking about these countries. You maybe want to go there on vacation, maybe you want to go there, volunteer and help out,” Samuelsson said. “And it can start by falling in love while watching them.”
Global Citizen hopes the halftime show ultimately becomes more than entertainment — turning the world’s largest sporting stage into a fundraising platform for education and youth development worldwide.
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