Why the World Cup half-time show may be a taste of things to come
The 2026 World Cup's spectacle is creating debate about the place of music in sport - and how it could infiltrate other tournaments.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"There's a battle to get more Americans involved and fall in love with this game - it's obviously not their main sport..."
— Betty Glover , Other
"Expectation from fans has heightened when it comes to big sporting events, meaning music could feature more in future."
— James Massing , Executive
"I get that it's the World Cup final, but it's the most-watched event in the world already and I don't think you need to add these things to it."
— Ellis Platten , Influencer
Key People
Betty Glover is a sports broadcaster who has covered events such as the World Cup across the US.
BTS is a globally popular South Korean boy band known for their music and cultural impact.
Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer and songwriter known for his Afro-fusion music.
Ellis Platten is a British football content creator known for his insights and travels related to the sport.
James Massing is a representative at Live Nation responsible for organizing high-profile live events.
Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer and songwriter known for his influential pop music career.
Madonna is a seven-time Grammy winner and pop star releasing a new album.
Colombian singer known for her performances and music.
Locations
All Coverage
The 2026 World Cup's spectacle is creating debate about the place of music in sport - and how it could infiltrate other tournaments.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Algorithms amplified World Cup racism, says report
Racist abuse aimed at England footballers on social media was amplified during the World Cup by algorithms designed to maximise engagement and profit, according to new research.
August 19, 2026 at 11:02 PMWhat we learned from Wafcon 2026
BBC Sport Africa looks at some of the key takeaways from Wafcon 2026 as Cameroon crowned first-time champions despite not qualifying for the finals.
August 17, 2026 at 04:51 PMSoaring heat, falling crowds - The Hundred's peculiar summer
BBC Sport looks at the numbers behind the drop in attendances at The Hundred compared to 2025, in the tournament's first year under new private ownership.
August 15, 2026 at 12:00 PMEurovision Song Contest changes rules for countries at war
Organisers say countries engaged in armed conflict will be automatically disqualified from hosting.
August 12, 2026 at 03:49 PMVAR, timewasting and subs - new rules for the new season
The 2026-27 season will feature an unprecedented number of new laws, mostly designed to tackle tempo disruption and make the game quicker.
August 14, 2026 at 11:00 AMEurovision proposes new rules to reduce political voting
Organisers reportedly say politically motivated voting is "persistent" and is seen as "deeply worrying".
August 14, 2026 at 10:23 AM