Justin Bieber joins FIFA World Cup final halftime show lineup

FIFA and Global Citizen said Justin Bieber will co-headline the first FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, 2026, in New York New Jersey Stadium with Madonna, Shakira and BTS. The 11-minute performance will support a $100 million education fund for children and feature Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus and others.

Why it matters: - The performance is designed to turn the World Cup final into a global fundraising moment for education access and football opportunities for children. - The halftime show is expected to reach billions of viewers and could become a landmark broadcast music event. - The event ties entertainment directly to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is already partway to its $100 million goal.

What happened: - FIFA and Global Citizen announced that Justin Bieber will join the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show as a co-headliner. - The show takes place Sunday, July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium. - Bieber joins Madonna, Shakira and BTS on the lineup. - Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay will also perform. - The 11-minute show is curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

The details: - The halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million. - The fund seeks to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide. - More than $50 million has already been raised. - FIFA said $1 from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be donated throughout the tournament. - Global Citizen is urging participating World Cup nations to announce new contributions at a pledging event on July 16, 2026. - The countries named for possible new contributions include France, Spain and Germany. - The show will also feature Muppets from Sesame Street, including Kermit, Miss Piggy and other Muppets from The Walt Disney Company. - FIFA said the Sesame Street characters reinforce the education theme of the event. - Global Citizen said the show is produced in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. - The first group of grantees from the Education Fund was announced in May and covers underserved communities in 10 countries. - Applications are open for the fund’s second grant cycle. - The fund’s advisory board includes Hugh Jackman, The Weeknd, Ivanka Trump, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans, Serena Williams, Shakira, Kaká and Bank of America co-president Jim DeMare. - Global Citizen said there are about 350 million children and adolescents out of school worldwide. - Global Citizen said about 133 million of those children do not meet minimum reading and math proficiency by the end of primary school. - Global Citizen has announced more than $50 billion in commitments on its platforms since 2008, affecting 1.3 billion lives.

Between the lines: - The lineup mixes stadium-scale pop, global music stars and family-friendly brands to widen the event’s appeal. - The education fund gives FIFA and Global Citizen a concrete cause to attach to one of the most-watched sports broadcasts in the world. - The call for fresh commitments from world leaders suggests the organizers want the halftime show to create policy and funding pressure, not just entertainment value.

What's next: - Global Citizen plans a special pledging event on July 16, 2026, ahead of the final. - Participating countries may announce additional contributions before the World Cup final. - More Education Fund grants are expected as the second application cycle remains open. - The halftime show will air live worldwide during the World Cup final on July 19, 2026.

The bottom line: - FIFA is using its first World Cup final halftime show to merge global pop culture with a fundraising push for education, aiming for a legacy beyond the match itself.