BTS and Justin Bieber Halftime Show: FIFA Adds Bieber to 2026 World Cup Final Lineup

Justin Bieber has been added as a co-headliner for the first FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, joining BTS, Madonna and Shakira for the July 19, 2026 event at New York New Jersey Stadium. FIFA announced the lineup update on July 8, placing Bieber into a show that had already confirmed BTS, Madonna and Shakira in May. ¹

The BTS World Cup appearance is part of an 11-minute halftime production tied to the 2026 final. The current performer list also includes Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, with the show supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. ¹

BTS and Justin Bieber Halftime Show Lineup Confirmed

FIFA’s July 8 announcement confirmed Bieber’s addition to a bill that had already been framed as a historic World Cup final production. The event is scheduled for halftime of the 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium, where the match itself is listed by Global Citizen as starting at 3 p.m. ET. ²

The official lineup now places Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber among the co-headlining artists. Global Citizen’s event page also lists Shakira + Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay as part of the current show lineup. ²

The format is notable because FIFA and Global Citizen have described it as the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show. FIFA’s earlier May announcement named Madonna, Shakira and BTS as co-headliners and said the production would be curated by Chris Martin. ³

Global Citizen’s July 8 announcement said the show is curated by Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen. The May announcement also named Live Nation and Done + Dusted among the production partners. ^{4 3}

Bieber’s statement in the FIFA release was brief and framed around the global scale of the event: “The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can.” ¹

Key Facts at a Glance

The funding element has been central to the announcements. FIFA said on July 8 that more than $50 million had been raised for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. ¹ Global Citizen said $1 from every match ticket sold would be contributed to the fund, which is intended to expand access to education and football for children around the world. ⁴

The Associated Press reported that the show supports the fund’s $100 million fundraising goal. ⁵ In May, when BTS, Madonna and Shakira were first announced, FIFA said the fund had already raised more than $30 million and that $1 per ticket would go toward social impact projects. ³

Fundraising and Public Viewing Plans

The halftime show is linked not only to the stadium audience but also to a wider public event in New York. Global Citizen’s event page says a final viewing event is planned for the Great Lawn in Central Park, with capacity for 50,000 people. ²

The May Global Citizen announcement also said Sesame Street and The Muppets characters would be included in the halftime show. ⁶ That detail remains part of the broader official description of the event’s family and education-focused framing, although the July 8 Bieber announcement focused mainly on the expanded musical lineup and the fund.

BTS’ participation was first confirmed in the May FIFA announcement, alongside Madonna and Shakira. In that announcement, BTS said, “Music is the universal language of hope and harmony.” ³ The group’s role has since remained part of the confirmed lineup as Bieber was added in July.

For entertainment and sports audiences, the event brings a Super Bowl-style halftime format into the World Cup final setting. The Associated Press described such a halftime performance as unusual for a soccer final, while confirming that Bieber had joined the show featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS. ⁵

About the Author

Cloi Lee

Author

View All Posts