Photo Credit: Wesley Tingey
The Super Bowl took the concept of a halftime show to extreme heights. Now, FIFA is adopting the concept for a jam-packed, star-studded 11-minute halftime show in New York.
Last week, Global Citizen announced that Justin Bieber had been added to the mix as a co-headliner of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final halftime show, alongside Madonna, Shakira, and BTS for the first show of its kind in World Cup history. The event kicks off on Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The 11-minute halftime show will also feature Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus (the acclaimed choir of fourth and fifth graders from a public elementary school in Staten Island) featuring Coldplay, in a concert curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
The event will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a landmark initiative working to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and sports for children worldwide. The fund has already raised over $50 million, with momentum continuing to build as a dollar from every ticket sold to FIFA World Cup matches will be donated throughout the tournament.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. 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,” said Justin Bieber.
So exactly how much bigger will this event be than the Super Bowl halftime show? Well, the game is expected to draw a massive global live television audience of over 1.5 billion viewers—depending somewhat on who actually makes it to the finals.
By comparison, Super Bowl LX in February pulled in a record-breaking (yet comparatively modest) global audience of 125.6 million viewers. While that number will still likely beat those of the FIFA event in the United States, it definitely won’t hold a candle to the worldwide turnout.
“When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education. We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira, and BTS to co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay will also join and play a key role in conveying a powerful message of unity and hope to billions of people worldwide.”
“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. This is a moment that will bring the world together through music, hope, and action,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Citizen.
“These extraordinary artists, representing every corner of the globe, are coming together to help create opportunities for children everywhere through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Together, we are calling on world leaders […] to seize this moment of global unity by contributing to the Education Fund and ensuring this World Cup sets a new benchmark for lasting impact.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show is produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted. The show is being curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin as part of his ongoing role as international curator of the Global Citizen Festival.
Playing such a huge gig is a no-brainer for the likes of Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Madonna, and the rest, who will undoubtedly experience major spikes in listenership after the game.
