2026 World Cup Final: Justin Bieber and Other Stars at the Halftime Show in East Rutherford

The core of the program is the band Coldplay, whose frontman Chris Martin is serving as curator of the show. In addition to the already known acts, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has now also been announced for the halftime show, with the statement noting that "der kanadische Popstar Justin Bieber" is expected on July 19. The international line-up is rounded out by Nigerian musician Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and a choir from a New York elementary school.

The Show at a Glance

Unlike recently at the 2025 Club World Cup or the 2024 Copa América, where halftime shows lasted around 25 minutes and drew heavy criticism, FIFA is taking a different approach this time. "Zusammen mit Auf- und Abbau bleibt die Halbzeit bei den im Fußball üblichen 15 Minuten" (Together with setup and teardown, halftime remains at the football-standard 15 minutes), according to the report. This dispels previously expressed concerns that the standard 15-minute halftime break would have to be extended for the show. With the limitation to eleven minutes, the final is oriented toward the traditional shows at the Super Bowl, the championship game of the American football league NFL, the report continues.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already announced in advance a show "die dem größten Sportereignis der Welt gerecht wird" (that does justice to the world's biggest sporting event). The event at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford near New York will be charged not only musically but also charitably. The show, according to the plan, "will damit auch Geld für die Unterstützung der Bildung von Kindern weltweit sammeln" (also aims to raise money to support the education of children worldwide) and thus connect Global Citizen's mission with the major sporting event.

BTS as a Symbol of the Korean Wave

At the center of attention is the South Korean band BTS, regarded as a symbol of the global success of the "Korean Wave." Weeks earlier, it had been announced that pop icons Shakira and Madonna, as well as the South Korean band BTS, would perform at the halftime show. The band embodies, in the view of observers, the worldwide success of the "Korean Wave," the cultural soft power of South Korea, and a fan community that shapes pop culture around the world.

Eun-Jeung Lee, head of the Institute of Korean Studies at Free University of Berlin and a Korean studies scholar, explained the background on the podcast "Kennst du BTS?" (Do you know BTS?). "Anfang der 2000er-Jahre folgte dann die K-Pop-Welle" (In the early 2000s, the K-pop wave followed), she said. What in the late 1990s initially reached primarily East Asia is today part of the global mainstream. The "Korean Wave" began in the late 1990s with television series that first became successful in China and Japan.

The band is also of enormous economic significance for South Korea. The Hyundai Research Institute already estimated in 2018 BTS's annual contribution to the South Korean economy at around 4.1 trillion won (approximately 2.3 billion euros). Analyst Kim Yoo-hyuk of IBK Investment & Securities estimates revenue from ticket sales and merchandise alone from tours at at least 2.9 trillion won (approximately 1.65 billion euros). According to the booking platform Hotels.com, international accommodation searches for Seoul rose by 155 percent within 48 hours of a tour announcement, while the increase for Busan was 2,375 percent.

Economic and Social Impact

The band's impact extends far beyond economic effects. In 2020, BTS fans raised more than one million US dollars for the Black Lives Matter movement within 24 hours, after the band itself had made a donation. The band has spoken at the United Nations and visited the White House in 2022, where, together with then-US President Joe Biden, they drew attention to hatred against people of Asian origin. Researchers describe the band's fan community, called "ARMY," as one of the well-known examples of digitally organized fandoms.

"Die ‚ARMY'-Fans von BTS füllen nicht nur weltweit die Konzerthallen und Stadien – oder die Straßen, wie hier in Mexiko-City" (BTS's 'ARMY' fans don't just fill concert halls and stadiums around the world — or the streets, as here in Mexico City), according to a description of the fan community. BTS stands for the worldwide success of the "Korean Wave," for the cultural soft power of South Korea, and for a fan community that shapes pop culture globally. At the same time, BTS's worldwide success is closely tied to the "ARMY" fan community. Research describes "ARMY" as one of the best-known examples of digitally organized fandoms.

For the upcoming show, the band appears up to the task of one of the world's biggest stages. At the 2026 American Music Awards ceremony in Las Vegas, the members of BTS most recently performed together. With the performance at the World Cup final, the band reaches an audience of millions that extends well beyond its established fan community. Research speaks of a pioneering role: "Eine Band aus Korea verändert die Welt" (A band from Korea is changing the world).

Global Line-up with a Message

In addition to the musical acts, the inclusion of a New York elementary school choir is also intended to send a message about music's cross-generational impact. The mix of world stars, emerging artists, and a school choir also points to the show's mission. The halftime program is reminiscent of the traditional shows at the Super Bowl, the championship game of the American football league NFL. With the integration of the school choir and the education initiative, the event gains an additional social dimension.

Overall, the halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final is characterized by a mix of pop stars from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. With Justin Bieber, BTS, Coldplay, Shakira, Madonna, Burna Boy, and Gustavo Dudamel, as well as the New York elementary school choir, the show unites stars from different genres on one stage. The eleven-minute performance combines entertainment with the goal of raising funds for the education of children worldwide.

The venue for the final, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford near New York, is one of the largest stadiums in the United States. With this year's final, the stadium receives a special stage that underscores the importance of football in the United States. According to the organizers, the combination of a major sporting event and a short, focused show is intended to put both the sport and the good cause at center stage.

Venue and Schedule

The original concerns that the planned show could extend the halftime break have been dispelled by the latest information. Previously, fears had been voiced that the standard 15-minute halftime break of the football match would have to be extended for the show. With the now-confirmed duration of eleven minutes for the actual show and the clearly defined time window for setup and teardown, the structure of the match is preserved.

With its roster of stars from different continents, Global Citizen pursues the goal of reaching a global audience. The show is intended to bundle the proceeds from the education initiative and thereby contribute to supporting disadvantaged children. The organizers see the World Cup final as a platform to draw attention to the issue of education while celebrating musical diversity.

The date of July 19, 2026, falls in a phase in which the "Korean Wave" has grown continuously since the late 1990s. What in the late 1990s initially reached primarily East Asia is today part of the global mainstream. Research documents this transformation and views BTS as an important driver of this development. Economically as well, the band plays a key role for South Korea's culture and tourism industry.

Significance for South Korea's Culture

According to estimates, around 800,000 foreign tourists traveled to South Korea each year because of the band, according to the study. This makes the band one of the country's most important cultural exports. Millions in donations, for instance for Black Lives Matter, show that the fan community's engagement extends beyond the music. With the World Cup performance, the band will be introduced to a broad audience once again.