World Cup final halftime show brings pop overload to Sunday’s title match
Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna and Shakira are set for FIFA’s first Super Bowl-style World Cup final halftime show in New Jersey.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
The World Cup final is getting a pop spectacle to match the stakes on the field, with Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna and Shakira headlining FIFA’s first Super Bowl-style halftime show during Spain’s meeting with Argentina on Sunday.
The final is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET at New York New Jersey Stadium. Because soccer halftime depends on the end of the first half, the music is expected to start around 3:45 to 3:50 p.m. ET if the match begins on time and avoids major stoppages.
FIFA and Global Citizen have not announced a precise start time for the performance. The first half runs 45 minutes, but added time can push the break later, so viewers tuning in mainly for the show should be watching before 3:45 p.m. ET.
Who is performing at the World Cup halftime show?
FIFA says Bieber, BTS, Madonna and Shakira will headline the halftime performance. The bill also includes Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.
Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also part of the production. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the show, according to FIFA.
The performance itself is set to run 11 minutes. The full halftime break may last longer than the standard soccer interval because crews will need to put the stage in place and clear it afterward.
Broadcasters are preparing for the usual 15-minute halftime to potentially stretch to as much as 30 minutes. That possibility has drawn scrutiny because soccer’s rules body, the International Football Association Board, normally caps halftime at 15 minutes.
The IFAB also rejected a 2021 proposal to extend halftime to 25 minutes, citing player welfare concerns and the risks of athletes remaining inactive for too long.
How to watch the show
The halftime show will air within the World Cup final broadcast. In English, Fox has coverage, with streaming available through Fox One and the Fox Sports app.
Fox’s pregame programming begins at noon ET, three hours before kickoff.
Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and stream on Peacock. Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to all 104 World Cup matches live in Spanish, including the final and the halftime performance.
The production is tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a campaign that aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and soccer programs for children worldwide.
FIFA says the fund has already brought in more than $50 million. The total includes $1 from every ticket sold during the tournament, according to FIFA.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.