Justin Bieber Joins Madonna, Shakira and BTS for the World Cup Final Halftime Show

Justin Bieber is going to the World Cup final, and he's not going as a fan. FIFA announced Wednesday (July 8) that the singer will co-headline the tournament's first halftime show at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, joining the previously announced Madonna, Shakira and BTS, Rolling Stone reports.

It's his first big stage since he headlined Coachella in April, per Billboard. Pitchfork notes it's been a busy few weeks for Bieber: in addition to the World Cup news he announced the Toronto Maple Leafs' first pick at the NHL Draft, and he released live albums from both weekends of his Coachella set.

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.

Justin Bieber, in a statement, Rolling Stone

The lineup around him is deliberately enormous. Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, a choir of fourth and fifth graders from a Staten Island public school, with Coldplay, are also on the bill, and the Muppets from Sesame Street will appear. Pitchfork's rundown counts Miss Piggy and Kermit among the stars. The show is produced by Global Citizen with Live Nation and Done + Dusted, and Coldplay's Chris Martin is curating it.

What it's for

The halftime show benefits the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is trying to raise $100 million for children's access to education and football. Rolling Stone says it has already raised more than half of that, with $1 from every match ticket going to the fund.

Read moreTyla’s A*POP World Tour Starts Monday in Paris: Every Date, From Zénith to Johannesburg

Global Citizen's Hugh Evans had the big-picture pitch, and he wasn't shy about it.

This is the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid, and it could well be the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history.

Hugh Evans, Global Citizen co-founder and CEO, Rolling Stone

Why it matters

The World Cup has leaned on music all summer. Katy Perry sang “Wonder” with 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tius Luka at the opening match in Los Angeles on June 12, after Future and Tyla's “Game Time” and a performance of “Goals” by LISA, Anitta and Rema. Shakira and Burna Boy performed their official tournament song, “Dai Dai,” at the Mexico City opener, per Rolling Stone. The tournament also has an official soundtrack with songs from Future, Tyla, 21 Savage and the Rolling Stones, according to Billboard. FIFA now has a halftime show to rival the Super Bowl, in a format it has never tried.

Bieber released two albums in 2025, Swag, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and Swag II. Together they produced several Hot 100 hits, including “Daisies,” which peaked at No. 2, Billboard says.

What's next: just eight teams remain in the tournament, Morocco, France, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina and Switzerland, and the final kicks off Sunday, July 19. Here's how the show turned out.

Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.