The first ever halftime show at a men’s World Cup final will be co-headlined by four different acts, FIFA have announced.
Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS form the quartet tasked with trying to hold everyone’s attention during the biggest sporting event of the year.
“As the world unites for the most significant football match in history on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino gushed in a press release.
While the pagentry of this sort of performance is fitting for the U.S. setting of the tournament, halftime shows are not always a popular occurrence at soccer games. Camila Cabello was infamously booed throughout her act in the 2022 Champions League final by Real Madrid and Liverpool fans, prompting a social media post calling out the “rude” supporters, which was subsequently deleted.
However, there is a charitable element to this extravagance. The halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund in its bid to fund social projects which provide access to “quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide.” Already halfway towards the target of $100 million to raise, FIFA have pledged to funnel $1 for every ticket sold towards the cause.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Justin Bieber is quoted by FIFA as saying. “I’m grateful to be part of this halftime show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world.”
Other Acts Performing at 2026 World Cup Halftime Show
The World Cup will be bookended by Burna Boy. Shakira’s partner on the official tournament song “Dai Dai” performed alongside the Colombian star at the opening ceremony in Mexico City but has not been billed by FIFA as one of co-headliners for the final.
Undeterred by his perceived demotion, Burna Boy is quoted by FIFA as saying: “The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together. To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly.
“I’m honored to be part of a performance that not only celebrates football and culture but also helps create greater opportunities for children through education around the world.”
The Afrofusion artist will be joined in some capacity by Gustavo Dudamel, the famed conductor and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as PS 22 Chorus, a viral sensation which is a choir of around 85 public school fourth and fifth graders from New York City. Coldplay have also managed to wangle their way into the chorus of schoolchildren.
Not content with just musical acts, characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also play a role. The thinking is that as the whole enterprise is theoretically a way to raise money for charities supporting the education of children, why not find room for the puppets who help teach kids on TV?
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How to Watch 2026 World Cup Halftime Show on TV, Live Stream
U.S. broadcaster Fox Sports will end its six-week long exclusive coverage of the World Cup with the final in New Jersey. Yet, whether the halftime show sees the light of day is another matter entirely. Fox was heavily criticized for missing the entirety of Shakira’s performance in the opening ceremony of the tournament.
For those in the U.S. looking for a Spanish language broadcast of the event, should it be captured by the cameras, Telemundo is the place to go.
| Country | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United States | Fox Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, TeleXitos, Fox One |
| Mexico | TUDN, ViX Mexico |
| Canada | TSN+, TSN1, RDS, CTV, RDS App, CTV App, Noovo, Crave |
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV, BBC iPlayer, ITVX |
