Justin Bieber will be a part of a star-studded World Cup final half-time show this weekend.
After England’s heartbreaking semi-final exit, the MetLife Stadium showdown will see Argentina and Spain go head-to-head, but there will be an extended break in play at the interval.
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There will be an 11-minute spectacle curated by Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, during the final in New Jersey on July 19.
The show will be in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which plans to raise $100million (£74million) to help children access education and football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “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.”
Almost 1.5billion people tuned into the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.
Who else is performing?
Canadian pop star Bieber will feature alongside Madonna, Shakira, and K-Pop group BTS in the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style half-time show.
Bieber said: “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.”
Madonna is frequently labelled the ‘Queen of Pop’, is the best-selling female artist of all time and has just released the 15th album of her career.
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Meanwhile, BTS is a seven-member boy band and has sold 45million albums worldwide.
They recently took a three-year music hiatus while they completed their mandatory military service.
Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy and Venezuelan classical conductor Gustavo Dudamel are also set to appear, as well as characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
Shakira and Burna Boy were among the performers who featured in the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City after their hit ‘Dai Dai’ became the official song of the tournament.
Hugh Evans, CEO of concert organiser Global Citizen, said: “This is the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid.
“It could well be the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history.”
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How long will the performance be?
According to FIFA, the half-time show will last 11 minutes but that does not take into consideration the stage being put up and removed.
There have been reports to suggest the disruption could last longer than 15 minutes, which the laws of the game say the interval cannot exceed.
The half-time entertainment at last summer’s Club World Cup final, similarly held at the MetLife Stadium, lasted more than 24 minutes.
Pre-match performances have become a staple at the Champions League final, but this will be a World Cup-first.
How can I watch it?
The International Football Association Board states: “Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes, and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”
The governing body has added an increased amount of pre-match entertainment due to the expectation of an American audience.
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The final will be live on both the BBC and ITV, and will be free to stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
When the plans were first released, both broadcasters admitted they would maintain their typical format of analysing the action during the break instead of showing the musical performance.
The halftime show is expected to be watchable on the digital platforms of the BBC and ITV.
However, nothing is confirmed with the BBC recently adding: “Plans will be announced in due course.”
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