Additional Coverage:
- Justin Bieber and more join World Cup final halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS (apnews.com)
NEW YORK – Justin Bieber is set to join an all-star lineup for the FIFA World Cup’s halftime show, announced by FIFA on Wednesday. The performance will feature iconic artists Madonna, Shakira, BTS, as well as Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus, a Staten Island elementary school choir that will perform alongside Coldplay.
The 11-minute halftime event, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, is scheduled for the World Cup final on July 19, taking place outside New York. The show aims to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which seeks to raise $100 million to improve access to education and soccer for children worldwide.
“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.”
Burna Boy’s participation is especially significant, as he is featured on this year’s official World Cup song, “Dai Dai,” alongside Shakira. The track blends Afrobeats with Latin rhythms and celebrates the global nature of the event by mentioning well-known soccer nations and players.
“The FIFA World Cup is one of the few moments that truly brings the entire world together,” Burna Boy stated. “To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly.”
While halftime shows are a hallmark of events like the Super Bowl, they are rare in soccer. Typically, entertainment at major soccer finals, such as the Champions League, occurs before the match. This year’s World Cup halftime will also feature appearances by beloved characters from Sesame Street, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
This groundbreaking halftime show promises to deliver a memorable celebration of music, culture, and global unity on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.