The FIFA World Cup has always been about goals, glory, and global unity. This July, it’s adding something brand new to the script: a full-scale, Super Bowl-style halftime show, and pop superstar Justin Bieber will be center stage for it.
FIFA and Global Citizen announced on July 8 that Bieber will co-headline the first-ever musical performance during the World Cup Final halftime, set for Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 11-minute spectacle marks a historic shift for the tournament, bringing together football’s biggest night with music’s biggest names.
A Lineup Built for the World Stage
Bieber joins an already blockbuster roster curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. He will co-headline alongside global icons Madonna, Shakira, and South Korean superstars BTS. But the show doesn’t stop there. The lineup also features Afrobeats powerhouse Burna Boy, internationally acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the award-winning Chorus of Staten Island elementary students, and a special family-friendly appearance by Sesame Street and Muppets characters including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
For Burna Boy, the moment carries extra weight. He is one-half of the tournament’s official song “Dai Dai” alongside Shakira, and called representing Africa on this stage “a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly”. Shakira herself will be making her fourth World Cup performance, having already appeared at the opening ceremony in Mexico.
More Than Music: A Mission for Education
This isn’t just about entertainment. The halftime show is being produced by FIFA and Global Citizen to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world. More than $50 million has already been raised, with $1 from every World Cup ticket sold being donated to the initiative. Bieber said the purpose made the performance even more meaningful. “The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world,” he said in a statement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed that sentiment, calling education “the most important thing the world needs” and praising the artists for helping “convey a powerful message of unity and hope to billions of people worldwide”.
A Super Bowl Moment for Football
For decades, the World Cup Final has had opening and closing ceremonies, but never a halftime concert in the middle of the match. FIFA is now borrowing from American sports tradition to create what it calls “the greatest show on earth” reaching its pinnacle.
The performance will run approximately 11 minutes, slightly shorter than the average Super Bowl halftime show, and will be broadcast live to millions from MetLife Stadium, also known as New York New Jersey Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, with the halftime show projected to start around 3:50 p.m. ET.
Chris Martin is overseeing the creative direction, aiming to redefine what entertainment at a World Cup Final can look like. FIFA describes it as a landmark moment that unites football, music, and social impact on the world’s biggest stage.
Global Buzz and Mixed Reactions
The announcement lit up social media just 10 days before kickoff, with fans calling the lineup a “music Avengers” moment. The pairing of pop, K-pop, Latin, and Afrobeats artists reflects the tournament’s expanded 48-team format and its push for global representation.
Not all reactions were celebratory. Some fans online questioned the move as “the Americanisation of football”, with comments like “The game is gone” circulating on X. Others pointed to FIFA’s own 15-minute interval rule and raised concerns about commercialization.
Despite the debate, the scale of the event is undeniable. With Bieber fresh off a stripped-down performance at Coachella this spring, Madonna promoting new music, and BTS bringing K-pop to football’s biggest audience, the halftime show is positioned to be one of the most-watched musical moments of 2026.
The 2026 World Cup is already historic as the first hosted across three nations and the first with 48 teams. Adding a halftime show signals FIFA’s intent to evolve the tournament into not just a sporting event, but a global cultural moment.
For Bieber, it’s a return to massive live stages with a cause attached. For fans in East Rutherford and around the world, it’s a chance to see sport and music collide in real time. And for the children the fund aims to support, it’s a reminder that the World Cup’s impact can extend far beyond the final whistle.
As Infantino put it, this will be “a celebration of football, unity and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle”.
The World Cup Final kicks off July 19 at MetLife Stadium. The show will air live on FOX, with streaming available on Fubo and the Fox One App.
