Bieber, Madonna and Coldplay headline World Cup final show that BBC will skip

Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, Coldplay, BTS, Burna Boy, and Gustavo Dudamel will headline the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — but viewers in the United Kingdom are unlikely to see a single note of it.

The BBC is set to stick with its standard broadcast format of pre-match analysis, live first-half coverage, and interval punditry rather than cutting to the 11-minute halftime spectacular. ITV is understood to be taking a similar approach, meaning the vast majority of UK viewers will miss the show entirely.

Bieber, who also performed at the tournament’s opening ceremony and has been publicly supporting his native Canada throughout the competition, was personally selected for the honour. In a statement, he said: “The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. 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.”

All proceeds from the halftime show will be directed to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is targeting £74.5 million ($100 million) to broaden access to quality education and football for children worldwide. The fund has already raised more than £37.4 million ($50 million), with $1 from every ticket sold at FIFA World Cup 2026 matches being donated throughout the tournament.

The performance is set to mark Bieber’s first time on stage in some time, adding further weight to what FIFA is billing as a landmark moment for the tournament’s showpiece fixture.