Justin Bieber has been added to the lineup for the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show, joining Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as co-headliners. The 11-minute performance, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the championship match. The show will also feature Afrobeats star Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus, a group of elementary school students from Staten Island. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also appear.
The halftime show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer opportunities for children worldwide. FIFA has already raised over $50 million, with $1 from every ticket sold during the tournament contributing to the cause. Bieber expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, 'The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can.' FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of education, calling it 'nothing more important' in the global context.
The show has raised concerns over the duration of the halftime break, as FIFA’s regulations allow for a maximum of 15 minutes. Organizers have clarified that the 11-minute performance will not exceed this limit, addressing earlier speculation that the show could last up to 25 minutes. The event is billed as the 'biggest stage ever,' with an expected audience of 'a couple of billion' viewers worldwide.