2026 World Cup: Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Burna Boy at halftime of the final

Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Burna Boy will all share the stage on July 19th, during halftime of the World Cup final. For eleven minutes, the event will take on the atmosphere of the Super Bowl with a unique performance, the proceeds of which will fund programs promoting access to education and football.

“The greatest stage of all time,” promises Gianni Infantino, with the measured tone that generally characterizes the pronouncements of the current head of world football. Before “a few billion viewers,” FIFA intends to transform, for the first time in its history, the halftime of a World Cup final into a true American-style spectacle.

Inspired by the famous Super Bowl halftime show - the championship final organized by the NFL, the American football league - this concert is placed under the artistic direction of Chris Martin, singer and founder of the British pop rock group, Coldplay.

A star-studded lineup for a historic premiere

To make this premiere a global event, FIFA and the NGO Global Citizen brought together several of the biggest stars in music. In the final days before the show, the participation of the world-famous Justin Bieber was added to an already impressive lineup.

The performer of the hit song "Baby," while more passionate about hockey than football, is thus continuing his comeback after several years of relative obscurity. Having already been seen a few months ago at the Coachella festival held in the middle of the Californian desert, the 32-year-old Canadian singer will be one of the headliners of this first musical half of the World Cup.

Alongside him, spectators at MetLife Stadium, as well as those watching on screen, will see the hugely popular K-pop group BTS, the ever-present Madonna, and the renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Shakira and Burna Boy, who already performed at the opening ceremony in Mexico City in early June, will also return to the stage.

And the lineup could change at the last minute. Depending on which teams qualify for the final, other artists might be invited. Liam Gallagher, the lead singer of Oasis, has already stated that he would be willing to perform their hit song "Wonderwall" if England were to play in the final.

Eleven minutes of entertainment

Eleven minutes, not a minute more. Enough to not exceed the fifteen minutes allowed by the rules of football for the break between the first and second halves.

This extended period is intended to reassure fans, who were burned by the last Club World Cup final. Held last year in the same stadium, the halftime break ultimately exceeded twenty-four minutes to allow for a similar spectacle, albeit on an American scale. This extra time sparked fierce criticism, with some questioning its impact on the players' physical preparation before the second half.

This time, FIFA claims to have revised its organization. The show will last less than fifteen minutes, leaving little time to set up a stage, bring in the performers, and then dismantle everything before the players return...

A concert to fund access to education

Beyond the spectacle, FIFA wants to give this first-ever event a charitable dimension. Produced by the NGO Global Citizen, the concert is intended to raise funds for the FIFA and Global Citizen Global Fund for Education, launched in 2025.

The goal is to raise $100 million to fund programs that provide access to education and promote children's participation in football.

This fundraising effort began well before the final on July 19th. Since the start of the competition, FIFA has donated one dollar to the fund for every ticket sold, an initiative that has already raised nearly $50 million.