Justin Bieber and Madonna set for World Cup final show - but the BBC won't show it

Justin Bieber has been confirmed as one of the co-headliners for the inaugural Halftime Show on Sunday July 19, alongside Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy and Gustavo Dudamel. The star-studded performance marks a significant moment for the tournament's showpiece finale.

However, the BBC has announced it will not broadcast the halftime spectacle. Instead, the corporation will stick with their usual format of pre-game and half-time analysis, remaining focused on match coverage throughout the fixture. Other broadcasters are expected to follow a similar path.

Bieber said in a statement: "The FIFA World Cup brings the 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 towards the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise between 74.5 million and 100 million to broaden access to quality education and football for children globally. The fund has already amassed over 37.4 million to 50 million, with one pound from every ticket sold for 2026 matches being donated throughout the tournament.

The announcement generated excitement among fans, with one supporter commenting: "Yes Do your thing bro."

This marks Bieber's first performance since appearing at Coachella. The singer has significantly reduced his public schedule following previous health battles, including Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. His last full-scale concert tour was the Justice World Tour, which ran in 2022.

Bieber has been actively engaged with the tournament, having appeared at the World Cup opening ceremony and publicly supported his native Canada. He recently posted a picture of the team's football badge on Instagram, captioning it: "SEND YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS TO TEAM CANADA PLAYING NOW #fifaworldcup2026."