Justin Bieber has been added to the star-studded lineup of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, organizers confirmed on Wednesday. The entire musical performance, set to take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will last 11 minutes. This marks the first time a halftime show will be featured during a football World Cup final.
Star-Packed Lineup
Canadian megastar Justin Bieber joins an impressive roster of performers including Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop sensation BTS. The show will also feature characters from 'Sesame Street' and 'The Muppets.'
Curated by Chris Martin
Coldplay's Chris Martin is curating the extravaganza. The show is expected to be a significant event, with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino stating it will be 'definitely the biggest stage ever,' with 'a couple of billion' expected to tune in.
Concerns Over Halftime Length
The laws of football allow a halftime interval 'not exceeding 15 minutes.' Even an 11-minute musical performance could still require the break to be extended, given the time likely required to set up and disassemble the show. Previous speculation had suggested the halftime show could stretch for as long as 25 minutes, but this announcement has assuaged those concerns.
Supporting a Global Cause
The show will support FIFA's Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the World Cup. Justin Bieber expressed his excitement, stating, '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.'
Additional Performers Announced
Also added to the lineup in Wednesday's announcement were Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy and Venezuelan classical conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Coldplay will feature in a collaboration with PS22 Chorus, an acclaimed choir of students from a New York public elementary school.
Historical Significance
Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of anti-poverty campaign group and concert organizer Global Citizen, said, 'This is the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid, and it could well be the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history.' At 11 minutes, the World Cup final halftime show would be slightly shorter than most recent Super Bowl halftime performances, which have typically been around 13-14 minutes long.
