FIFA expects ‘a couple of billion’ to tune in to the 11-minute performance, the first at a World Cup.

Published On 8 Jul 2026

Justin Bieber has been added to the star-studded lineup for the inaugural World Cup final halftime show, with organizers confirming the musical performance will span 11 minutes. The Canadian pop superstar joins Madonna, Shakira and K-pop phenomenon BTS for the Super Bowl-style show scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Chris Martin of Coldplay is curating the event—an unprecedented feat for a World Cup final—that has raised questions about the length of the traditional halftime interval. While football regulations permit a break “not exceeding 15 minutes,” the 11-minute show may necessitate extending the actual break to accommodate setup and teardown.

The announcement addresses earlier reports suggesting the extravaganza could last up to 25 minutes. FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the show as “definitely the biggest stage ever,” predicting “a couple of billion” viewers worldwide.

The production will also include characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, with proceeds supporting FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise $100 million for children during the tournament.

“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said. “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.”

Nigerian artist Burna Boy and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel were also added to the lineup, alongside Coldplay’s collaboration with PS22 Chorus, an acclaimed New York public elementary school choir.

“This is the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid, and it could well be the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history,” said Hugh Evans, cofounder and CEO of Global Citizen.

At 11 minutes, the World Cup final show will be slightly shorter than recent Super Bowl halftime shows, which typically run 13–14 minutes.

A halftime show was tested at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where the break stretched to just over 24 minutes and drew criticism over potential impacts on player performance.

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