The FIFA Club World Cup Final has always been about crowning the world’s best football club. But this year’s edition in New Jersey took a major step forward, not just in sport, but in spectacle.
The FIFA Club World Cup Music Show at halftime brought an unprecedented fusion of global music and football energy. It reshaped the traditional format of the game’s biggest club-level event.
As someone who follows football closely, I approached the halftime show with curiosity but also with a fair degree of skepticism.
Yet what unfolded on July 12th at MetLife Stadium proved to be more than just a flashy detour.
It was a carefully produced cultural moment, one that carried real intent, broad global appeal, and lasting impact beyond the 90 minutes of play.
A Carefully Curated Lineup with Global Resonance
The show featured four artists chosen not just for fame but for global relevance. The organizers clearly understood that this wasn’t just a concert, it was a message.
J Balvin opened with explosive energy, delivering back-to-back reggaetón hits that connected immediately with the younger demographic and Latin American audience.
Tems followed with a more reflective, soulful presence. Her calm, powerful vocals were a perfect shift in tone, representing modern African artistry with elegance. She also the first African singer to perform at the FIFA Club World Cup Final.
Doja Cat brought undeniable stagecraft and intensity, blending pop appeal with a visually compelling performance. View her performance on instagram.
Coldplay, serving as the closing act, anchored the emotional core of the show. Their set was punctuated by an appearance from Emmanuel Kelly, whose story of overcoming disability brought deeper meaning to the moment.
In many ways, this wasn’t just a halftime show, it was a mini world tour packed into 20 minutes.
A Purpose-Driven Show with Real-World Goals
Beyond the entertainment factor, the FIFA Club World Cup Music Show was also tied to a major philanthropic effort. FIFA partnered with Global Citizen to use the show as a platform for change.
Each ticket sold contributed $1 toward the newly launched FIFA Global Education Fund, with a target of raising $100 million to support global education programs.
It’s rare to see halftime entertainment tied so directly to long-term impact, and this partnership helped the show move beyond spectacle and into purpose.
For football fans who value what the sport can do off the pitch, this added weight and respectability to an otherwise bold experiment.
Production That Respected the Game
Unlike Super Bowl-style field-stage setups that often risk damaging the playing surface, FIFA made a deliberate decision to construct the stage in the upper stands.
This allowed the performance to be dynamic without interfering with the game itself, a thoughtful design choice that showed clear respect for football tradition.
Additionally, transitions between acts were tight and seamless. The show lasted roughly 20 minutes, an extended halftime compared to traditional football matches, but not so long that it disrupted the flow of the final itself. The balance between show and sport was well maintained.
Fan Reactions: Divided but Engaged
The introduction of a full-scale music concert at halftime didn’t land perfectly with every fan. Longtime followers of the game expressed concern that FIFA may be heading too far in the direction of American-style sports entertainment. Some social media comments even described it as “overproduced” or “out of place.”
However, many others saw the value in it, not just for what it represented today, but for what it signals for the future of global football culture. In a world where younger fans consume sport and music side-by-side, integrating both into a major final makes strategic sense.
Whether you support it or not, the conversation around the FIFA Club World Cup Music Show proves one thing: people are paying attention.
Why This Moment Matters in Football’s Evolution
Football is evolving, not just tactically, but culturally. From broadcast deals to sponsorships and now halftime shows, the game is expanding its ecosystem to include more touchpoints with fans.
This doesn’t mean the game is losing its soul. If anything, it means it’s adapting to a new generation while still holding on to what matters most.
What the FIFA Club World Cup Music Show demonstrated was that entertainment and tradition don’t have to be at odds.
With the right balance, and the right intention, they can work together to create a deeper, more meaningful experience.
This is especially relevant as we look ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across North America. If the Club World Cup was the rehearsal, it’s safe to expect even more ambitious production in the near future.
Highlights That Made an Impression
Here are some key moments from the halftime show that left a lasting impression:
J Balvin‘s massive entrance and crowd callout set the pace.
Tems‘ calm, powerful presence reminded us that not every moment needs fireworks to be memorable.
Doja Cat‘s choreography and visual design created a spectacle that was made for modern streaming culture.
Coldplay‘s finale with Emmanuel Kelly added depth and emotional resonance, a reminder that sport is still about humanity, not just victory.
Final Thoughts: A Bold Step That Redefined Expectations
The FIFA Club World Cup Music Show was not just a halftime break, it was a moment of reinvention. It brought the worlds of music, sport, and purpose together in a way we rarely see at this level.
And while it may not have pleased every purist, it undeniably marked a shift in how football finals are presented and remembered.
FIFA took a risk, and it paid off in attention, global coverage, and cultural impact. Whether you’re a fan of the music, the mission, or the match itself…
This halftime show left something behind, and that’s exactly what a good performance should do.
Thank you for reading this on VIESIC.com where sports meets culture, and entertainment meets insight.
Stay with us for more professional, informed coverage of global events that matter.
READ ALSO:
New Music Releases From Nigeria, the UK, and the USA
Top Afrobeats Songs of 2025: The Sound Taking Over the World
Afrobeats Stars Nominated for 2025 American Music Awards
