The FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain is just two days away, and Rolling Stone has an exclusive first look at the high-tech stage set up for the halftime show starring Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin.
Global Citizen, which is leading the charge of the halftime show with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, was tasked with creating a stage in the stands to avoid affecting the real grass installed at MetLife Stadium for the big game. In place of an on-pitch performance, FIFA and Global Citizen built out a massive stage on the upper stands of the venue.
Global Citizen brought in 40,000 pounds of staging, scenery, and structural truss, all carried by hand by 100 stagehands to the stands and brought to the venue by six semi-trucks. The stage features 4,000 feet of pipe bracing, LED displays with nearly 16 million pixels.
Global Citizen
“The innovative stage design we created for MetLife Stadium both preserves the integrity of the pitch and promises to deliver the kind of performances our global audience will never forget,” Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, tells Rolling Stone. “By building our platform high in the stands, we ensured that the newly installed natural grass remains untouched while delivering an unforgettable show that is designed to be time-efficient and visually stunning.”
With the halftime show and its partnership with FIFA, Global Citizen aims to raise $100 million for global education access. “This show will bring us closer to ensuring that children everywhere have access to quality education,” says Evans.
The show away from the pitch allows the performance to run for the full 15-minute event and eliminates the need for setup between halves. The event will feature a fully global lineup with Tems representing Africa, J Balvin waving the Colombian flag for South America, Emmanuel Kelly repping Australia, and Doja Cat representing North America.
“I’m proud to represent America on this unique stage that will bring people from all corners of the world together,” Doja Cat tells Rolling Stone. “I’m also extremely grateful to continue to support global education efforts by raising funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. I know the energy on Sunday at MetLife is going to be unreal.”
J Balvin adds: “This event is bigger than a simple halftime show – it’s a moment to bring the world together through music and football to support education for children everywhere.”
Along with holding up the flag for his native Australia, Kelly — who has opened for Coldplay in the past — shares his excitement for representing differently-abled people. “Being part of the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show is more than a personal milestone—it’s a moment of visibility and hope for every differently-abled child who’s ever been told ‘no,’” Kelly says. “I’m honored to represent Australia on a global stage and proud to be part of a show that’s not only breaking ground in entertainment but helping change lives through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.”
On the field, PSG beat out Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus in the knockout stages to reach the final against Chelsea, which defeated Benfica, Palmeiras, and Fluminense to reach the final game. The game (and the halftime show) are set to air live for free on DAZN.com on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The 2025 Club World Cup serves as somewhat of a precursor to the massive 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to be hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States next summer. (MetLife Stadium is also set to host the World Cup final next year.)
