The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest edition of the global football tournament in history with 48 participating teams hosted across three North American nations, is gearing up for its landmark final match in New York on July 19, which will feature the tournament’s first ever Super Bowl-style half-time show. Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber has been confirmed as the latest A-list addition to the star-studded performance lineup, joining already announced headliners Madonna, Shakira, and global K-pop phenomenon BTS.
The 11-minute curated performance, which is organized to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, will also feature additional appearances from Nigerian Afrobeats icon Burna Boy, renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus with special guests Coldplay, and beloved children’s characters from Sesame Street. This half-time set has been personally curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, with the initiative aiming to raise $100 million (£73 million) to support children’s education access across the globe.
For Bieber, this high-profile performance marks another major milestone in his ongoing return to live performance. The 32-year-old singer canceled his Justice World Tour several years ago due to serious health issues, and made his big comeback to large-scale live shows this past spring with a nostalgia-driven set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. During that widely covered performance, Bieber performed many of his early career hits for the cheering crowd, leaning into a fan-favorite format that saw him sing along to retro YouTube versions of tracks like *Baby*, *Never Say Never*, *One Time*, and *Beauty and the Beat*.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement confirming his participation.
Shakira and Burna Boy, who both performed at opening ceremonies across the tournament’s host countries earlier this month, will return to the stage for this closing half-time show. The pair’s collaborative World Cup track *Dai Dai* has topped global music charts since the tournament kicked off on June 11, and has become a staple anthem played at matches throughout the competition.
As the tournament enters its late knockout stage, all three host nations — Mexico, Canada, and the United States — have already been eliminated from contention, leaving just eight teams to compete in the upcoming quarter-final matches. The knockout round action resumes Thursday with France facing off against Morocco in Boston. On Friday, Spain will take on Belgium in Los Angeles, while back-to-back quarter-final matches will take place Saturday: Norway faces England in Miami, and defending champion Argentina meets Switzerland in Kansas City.
Off the pitch, the individual Golden Boot race remains one of the tournament’s biggest storylines. Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi, who has already broken multiple records throughout the 2026 competition, currently leads the race with eight tournament goals. Trailing closely behind Messi are France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland, both of whom have netted seven goals, while England’s Harry Kane sits in fourth place with six goals.