The 2026 World Cup final halftime show is shaping up to be less of a traditional sports break and more of a full-on global pop summit. Justin Bieber has been added to a lineup that already included Madonna, Shakira, and South Korean megastars BTS. FIFA confirmed the news on Saturday, with the 11-minute broadcast set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The show will also feature Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus from Staten Island, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who is curating the whole thing. Nigerian artist Burna Boy is also expected to make an appearance. And yes, characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will be part of it. You read that right.
FIFA said the halftime show will support its Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer opportunities for kids worldwide. According to the organization, more than $50 million has already been raised, including one dollar from every World Cup match ticket sold being donated to social projects.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino framed the show as more than just entertainment. When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education, he said in a statement. We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 final half-time show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.
Infantino also called it a groundbreaking spectacle that will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.
This is a big deal for the World Cup
The World Cup final has never had a true halftime show. Not like the Super Bowl, anyway. This is the first time FIFA has gone all-in on a produced, star-studded performance during the break. Putting Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS on the same stage is a statement. It also helps that several of these acts — especially BTS and Bieber — have massive global fanbases that stretch well beyond the typical soccer crowd.
FIFA said football, music and social impact will come together for this one. That might sound like a press release, but the scale of the talent suggests they meant it.
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