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Global pop sensation Justin Bieber has joined an impressive lineup of international stars set to perform during the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New York.
The Canadian singer will share the stage with music icons Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop supergroup BTS as part of the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime performance scheduled for July 19.
The star-studded 11-minute spectacle will also feature Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, as well as characters from Sesame Street.
The performance is being organised in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding educational opportunities for children worldwide.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement.
The announcement comes after Bieber’s return to live performance earlier this year with a nostalgia-filled appearance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, marking his biggest live show in four years following the cancellation of his Justice world tour due to health challenges.
During the Coachella appearance, the 32-year-old artiste revisited some of his biggest hits, including Baby, Never Say Never, One Time, and Beauty and a Beat, reconnecting with fans through songs that defined the early years of his career.
The World Cup halftime show has been curated by Chris Martin and is expected to help raise funds toward the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund’s goal of mobilising $100 million to support children globally.
Shakira and Burna Boy, who were among the artistes featured in the tournament’s opening celebrations across the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will return for the final performance.
Their collaboration Dai Dai has become one of the defining songs of the tournament, gaining widespread popularity and featuring prominently among football fans since the competition began on June 11.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams across North America, has entered its final stages, with only eight nations remaining in contention for the trophy.
The quarter-final fixtures include France against Morocco in Boston, Spain versus Belgium in Los Angeles, Norway against England in Miami, and defending champions Argentina facing Switzerland in Kansas City.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi currently leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, followed closely by France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland with seven goals each, while England’s Harry Kane has scored six.
