Live Updates: Madonna, BTS and More Bring Spectacle to World Cup Halftime

Of the halftime lineup, Madonna is the most seasoned act with an extensive catalog dating back to the 1980s. She’s no stranger to staged spectacles: She headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012 and just last month performed for fans on an elevated stage above Times Square.

This month, Madonna released her latest studio album, “Confessions II,” a spiritual successor to her 2005 album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor.” The 16 tracks on the project melt into one another, according to a New York Times review, resembling a D.J. set that ebbs and flows into various dance subgenres.

To accompany the release of the album, Madonna premiered a star-studded short film at the Tribeca Festival in June. The piece, titled “Confessions II,” featured six songs from the album and took fans on a dizzying journey through the many spaces where music thrives, including an arena, a car and a club bathroom. It featured a performance by Sabrina Carpenter and cameos by Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Moss, Debi Mazar and others.