Gustavo Dudamel conducts Venezuelan tribute at FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime

Around 20 musicians from Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra joined conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic for a historic halftime performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New Jersey on 19 July. The show, the first FIFA‑organized halftime concert, featured pop stars such as Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy and Justin Bieber, and was staged during the Spain‑Argentina match at MetLife Stadium.

The performance was designed to highlight the devastation caused by the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela, which killed 5,069 people and injured 16,740. It also supported FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for quality education and sport opportunities in vulnerable communities. Organisers said the concert symbolised solidarity between North and South America and sought to draw international attention to the country’s reconstruction needs.