The World Cup final draws the biggest television audience on the globe. On Sunday (July 19), those billions of viewers watched the Muppets play a classic Detroit rock song.
The White Stripes’ 2003 single “Seven Nation Army,” deeply entrenched in soccer culture across the world, was part of a halftime show featuring Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS and Michigan native Madonna.
Muppets drummer Animal and guitarist Janice were part of the cast as “Seven Nation Army” was featured between sets by Madonna and BTS, as incoming New York Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel oversaw the musical proceedings.
Sunday’s World Cup final, ultimately won by Spain 1-0 over Argentina, was the first to include a Super Bowl-style halftime show. Held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it wrapped up a North American sports spectacle that began more than five weeks ago.
Madonna, who performed her 2000 hit “Music,” kicked off an 11-minute show that included K-pop superstar group BTS (“Dynamite”), Bieber (“Everything Hallelujah”) and Shakira-Burna Boy (“Dai Dai”), along with a cameo from “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis.
Earlier, honorary Detroiter Jennifer Hudson — who played Aretha Franklin in the 2021 biopic “Respect” — performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” as part of the World Cup final’s pregame ceremony.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Muppets perform a Detroit rock classic at World Cup halftime show
Reporting by Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
