Today’s World Cup halftime show: What time to watch Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira

FIFA is giving the World Cup final its first Super Bowl halftime show, and the lineup is almost as crowded as the stadium.

Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will headline Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at New York Stadium in New Jersey.. Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Choir featuring Coldplay will also appear, along with guest appearances. Sesame Street again The Muppets. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin headlined the show.

When is the World Cup break?

The World Cup finals will begin on Sunday, July 19, at 3 pm ET, and the halftime show should start sometime around 3:45 to 3:50 pm ET.assuming the game starts on time and there are no major delays. FIFA and Global Citizen have never announced an exact start time because, unlike the Super Bowl, football does not stop at a well-planned venue. The first half lasts 45 minutes, but extra stoppage time will set it back a few minutes.

Spectators with a serious interest in the music should tune in before 3:45 or risk missing the show’s opening.

The performance itself will last 11 minutes, but the full intermission may be much longer as crews will need time to set up and clear the stage. Broadcasters adjust the usual 15-minute interval to 30 minutes.

Not everyone appreciates that, especially given the history of the game. Soccer’s governing body, the International Football Association Board, usually limits the break to 15 minutes and even rejected a 2021 proposal to extend it to 25, citing concerns for player welfare and the dangers of keeping athletes inactive for long periods of time.

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Some fans also see the extended break as another attempt to turn the World Cup into a Super Bowl-style American television show, with entertainment (and controversial commercial breaks) almost as important as the game.

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How to watch a World Cup match at halftime

The halftime show will play as part of the World Cup final broadcast. English-language coverage is available on Fox, while the game can be streamed via Fox One and the Fox Sports app. Fox’s sports coverage begins at noon ET, three hours before kickoff.

The Spanish-language broadcast will air on Telemundo and broadcast on Peacock. Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to all 104 World Cup matches live in Spanish, including the final and halftime performances. You can also check out Mashable’s guide to watching the 2026 World Cup online for free, which includes tips from readers around the world and VPN users.

The halftime show supports FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to increase access to education and soccer programs for children around the world. FIFA says more than $50 million has been raised, including $1 from every ticket sold during the tournament.