Justin Bieber joins Shakira for historic World Cup final show
Justin Bieber has joined Shakira, Madonna and BTS as co-headliners of the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA announced the lineup Wednesday, expanding a Super Bowl-style spectacle curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin to support a Global Citizen education fund. Shakira called the shared 11-minute set "pretty historic" ahead of a performance that also features Burna Boy and raises money for children's education worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Bieber completes a superstar co-headliner lineup with Shakira, Madonna and BTS for the July 19 final in New York.
- Shakira teased a "pretty historic" shared halftime show after also performing at the tournament's opening ceremony.
- Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus and Sesame Street characters join the 11-minute spectacle.
- The show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children's education and soccer access.
Why Does Shakira Call the World Cup Halftime Show Historic?
In an interview with The Capital Evening Show With Jimmy Hill that aired Wednesday, Shakira opened up about sharing the stage with Bieber, Madonna, BTS and Coldplay. She called the all-star set "pretty historic," joking there would be "five amazing artists, well four amazing artists plus me."
The Colombian superstar faces a creative challenge: she already performed at the World Cup opening ceremony and now returns for the final. "I've got to wrap my head around it, make it a little different from what I did at the inauguration," she told the program.
Shakira also name-checked Madonna, BTS and Bieber, adding that she hopes Chris Martin will sing during the shared performance. Her comments came a day after FIFA confirmed Bieber's addition to a lineup first announced with Shakira, Madonna and BTS.
Who Else Is Joining Shakira and Justin Bieber on Stage?
FIFA's Wednesday announcement rounded out one of the most star-packed halftime lineups in sports history. Afrobeats artist Burna Boy will perform alongside Shakira, continuing a partnership that produced "Dai Dai," one of this year's official World Cup songs.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus — elementary school students from Staten Island joined by Coldplay — are also on the bill. The AP reported that characters from "Sesame Street" and the Muppets, including Kermit and Miss Piggy, will appear during the broadcast.
Burna Boy called representing Africa on the first-ever World Cup final halftime show "a privilege and a responsibility that I don't take lightly." For more on high-profile celebrity announcements, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
When and Where Is the World Cup Final Halftime Show?
The 11-minute halftime performance takes place during the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — the New York area venue FIFA refers to as New York New Jersey Stadium.
Organizers billed it as the first Super Bowl-style halftime concert in World Cup history. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is curating the show, which FIFA announced alongside Global Citizen on Wednesday.
Bieber's appearance marks his first major performance since headlining Coachella in April, according to Billboard. The Canadian star said he was "grateful to be part of this halftime show" and that it is "already helping expand access to education for children around the world."
What Cause Is the Halftime Show Supporting?
The performance backs the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative raising $100 million to help children worldwide access education and soccer opportunities. FIFA said the halftime show is designed to support that fund as part of the tournament's broader push for global impact.
According to the Associated Press, Burna Boy's "Dai Dai" collaboration with Shakira blends Afrobeats and Latin rhythms into a multilingual track that name-checks World Cup nations from Brazil to Japan. That connection makes his halftime appearance especially notable alongside the song's co-lead.