Justin Bieber has been confirmed as a headline performer for the first-ever halftime show in FIFA World Cup Final history.

FIFA announced the addition of the Canadian pop star on July 8. Bieber will take the stage on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, joining an international lineup that includes Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.

Photo: Getty images

The halftime show marks a historic shift for the tournament. Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus with Coldplay are also set to perform. The production is being developed by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin serving as curator.

FIFA said the event will focus on entertainment and impact. Proceeds from the event will contribute to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a program dedicated to education and youth football initiatives for children worldwide. More than half of the campaign’s USD 100 million target has already been collected. FIFA said $1 from each ticket sold for World Cup 2026 matches will go to the fund.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called education “one of the world’s most important priorities” and said the halftime performance will be used to promote unity and social opportunity on a global stage.

Bieber also underscored the charitable mission. He noted his gratitude to be part of a project focused on educational access for children.

Photo: Getty images

The program will further emphasize youth and learning through appearances by characters from “Sesame Street” and “The Muppets.” Their inclusion aligns with the broader goals of FIFA’s Unite for Education campaign which seeks to leverage the tournament’s reach to advance youth empowerment and community development.

With artists spanning multiple genres, generations, and regions, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show is positioned to be among the most ambitious entertainment productions in the tournament’s history, pairing sport with music and philanthropy before a global audience.

Read Next Post: Lamar Odom Explains His Comments About Marrying Khloé Kardashian for Fame

Lamar Odom is responding to backlash over comments featured in his Netflix documentary “Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom,” after ex-wife Khloé Kardashian publicly disputed the suggestion that fame influenced his decision to marry her.

The controversy resurfaced following the film’s release in March. In the documentary, Odom reflected on his relationship with Kardashian and spoke about being drawn to the lifestyle surrounding the Kardashian family. His longtime friend Anthony “Pumpkin” Booker also recalled an alleged comment from Odom on his wedding day about the family’s influence and connections potentially benefiting his future.

Photo: Getty images 

Kardashian, who took part in the project without compensation, addressed the film in April on her podcast “Khloé in Wonder Land.”

Kardashian criticized suggestions that Odom married her for fame and said she regretted participating in the documentary.

Months later, Odom pushed back on that interpretation during an appearance on “Nothing’s Off the Table with Louis Ruggiero.” Addressing the controversy directly, Odom said he never claimed to have married Kardashian for clout. According to him, that interpretation stemmed from remarks made by other people interviewed for the project.

According to Odom, he entered the relationship as an established public figure and did not require additional exposure. He said his decision to marry was based on genuine affection, not ambition. While acknowledging the intense media attention around their union, he described the relationship as one that developed quickly and naturally, and became one of the era’s most discussed celebrity pairings.

The exchange has renewed tension between the former couple. Speaking on her podcast, Kardashian said she does not plan to participate in any future projects related to Odom. She also criticized comments she believes downplayed the role she played in supporting him after his near-fatal overdose in 2015.

Their relationship began in 2009 and ended with a finalized divorce in 2016. It remains a point of public interest in part because of its visibility, and in part because of the contrast between private struggle and public narrative.

Photo: Instagram

Today, their accounts diverge. Odom maintains his words and intentions have been misrepresented. According to Kardashian, the documentary and the interviews that followed brought back issues she believed had long been resolved.

The dispute illustrates a familiar challenge in documenting high-profile relationships: when memory, media framing, and personal perspective intersect, a single story rarely satisfies all involved. As both continue to speak publicly, the conversation underscores how the legacy of a relationship can remain contested long after it ends.

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