Justin Bieber will co-headline the World Cup final half-time show alongside Madonna, Shakira and Korean boy band BTS, FIFA has confirmed.
World football’s governing body says “football, music and social impact will come together in the first-ever FIFA World Cup final half-time show” at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19.
Nigerian artist Burna Boy will also feature during an 11-minute, Super Bowl-style broadcast at the interval, alongside Coldplay, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS 22 Chorus.
Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also be a part of the show.
World Cup half-time show: Madonna, Coldplay, Shakira and Burna Boy to perform
According to FIFA, the first-ever World Cup half-time show will support its Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise £74.7m ($100m) “to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide”.
Over £37.3m ($50m) has already been raised, FIFA said, which includes one US dollar from every World Cup match ticket sold “being donated to support social projects around the world”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education.
“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 added: “As the world unites for the most significant football match in history on Sunday, July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.”
While extremely common in US Sports such as NFL, half-time shows are not commonplace in football, with events such as the Champions League featuring a pre-match show.
Hydration breaks, effertively separating each half into quarters, has been a bone of contention at this World Cup, and the half-time show will be another area where they will stretch the boundies in the US.
