BTS, Madonna, Shakira, Bieber headline first-ever World Cup final halftime show

Justin Bieber is joining BTS, Madonna, and Shakira as a co-headliner for the 2026 FIFA North/Central America World Cup final halftime show, FIFA announced on July 9 (Korea time). The final is scheduled for July 19 at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

The show runs 11 minutes between the first and second halves and will be broadcast live worldwide. No World Cup final had featured a mid-match performance since Uruguay hosted the inaugural tournament in 1930. The format—long the exclusive territory of the NFL Super Bowl—is entering a World Cup final for the first time. FIFA tested the concept at last year's Club World Cup final in the United States, where J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly performed.

The full lineup extends beyond the four co-headliners. Coldplay, Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the P.S. 22 elementary school choir, and Sesame Street characters are also confirmed. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin designed the overall show. International NGO Global Citizen is handling production.

BTS will appear as a complete seven-member group. Member Jungkook sang the official soundtrack Dreamers at the 2022 Qatar World Cup opening ceremony. The group's connection to Martin goes back to 2021, when he traveled to Korea to record My Universe with them—a bilingual track that reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Shakira is pulling double duty at this tournament. She performed the official theme song Dai Dai with Burna Boy at the opening ceremony and will now close out the final. Her World Cup history includes the 2006 Germany closing ceremony, the 2010 South Africa official theme Waka Waka, and the 2014 Brazil closing ceremony. Madonna headlined the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.

Bieber said the World Cup "brings the entire world together in a way no one else can" and called his inclusion in the halftime show a source of joy. BTS called the appearance "a great honor" and said they believe "music is a universal language that conveys hope and unity."

Organizers plan to raise $100 million (approximately ₩150.7 billion) through the show, with all proceeds directed toward children's education and soccer training programs worldwide. The 2022 Qatar World Cup final drew 1.5 billion viewers—the audience this lineup is playing to.