Justin Bieber has been confirmed as one of the co-headliners for the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show on Sunday, July 19 – but most British viewers tuning in will not see a second of it. The BBC are set to ignore the 11-minute spectacle, sticking instead to their usual format of pre-game analysis, first-half coverage, half-time analysis and then the second half. ITV are expected to follow the same path, according to The Times.
The glittering show, pencilled in for the interval of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will also feature Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and Coldplay. Bieber, who has keenly followed this year’s tournament and recently rallied behind his native Canada on Instagram, said in a statement: “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.”
“Justin Bieber confirmed for World Cup final halftime show but BBC and ITV won't broadcast it.”
All proceeds from the show will go to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise £74.5m ($100m) to broaden access to quality education and football for children globally. The fund has already amassed over £37.4m ($50m), with $1 from every ticket sold for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches donated throughout the tournament, reports the Mirror US.
After the news broke on Instagram, fans flooded the comments section with excitement. One supporter wrote, “Yes! Do your thing bro!”, while another added, “YESSSSSSS MY FAV CAN’T WAIT,” and a third said, “THANK YOU, MY LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOW ANNOUNCE THE TOUR.”
The decision by the BBC and ITV to bypass the half-time show means millions of UK viewers will miss a performance featuring some of the world’s biggest pop stars – all in aid of a fund that has already begun changing lives.