Four global music icons will share football’s biggest stage.
EAST RUTHERFORD, UNITED STATES — July 2026. Justin Bieber has been confirmed as a co-headliner of the first official halftime show staged during a FIFA World Cup final. The Canadian singer will perform alongside Madonna, Shakira and South Korean group BTS. The event will take place on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The unprecedented musical production will unfold during the decisive match of the 2026 tournament. FIFA developed the show with international advocacy organization Global Citizen, while Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin is overseeing its artistic direction. Organizers expect the performance to reach one of the largest global television audiences ever assembled for a musical event.
Bieber joins a lineup designed to connect several generations, musical styles and international fan communities. Madonna brings decades of pop influence, Shakira maintains a long association with World Cup music and BTS commands a vast worldwide following. Bieber’s addition further expands the event’s reach across contemporary pop culture.
Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus of elementary-school students from Staten Island will also participate in activities surrounding the final. Coldplay is expected to appear as part of the broader production. The halftime performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which seeks to improve access to education and football for children.
The show represents a significant change for a tournament traditionally centered almost exclusively on the match itself. By adopting a large-scale halftime spectacle, FIFA is bringing the World Cup final closer to the entertainment model associated with major American sporting events. The production will have to balance its ambitious staging with the limited interval available between the two halves.
The World Cup final is becoming a global concert as well as football’s ultimate match.