Justin Bieber and Burna Boy have been announced as performers for the inaugural FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19. FIFA and producer Global Citizen confirmed the lineup on Wednesday, with the duo joining previously announced stars including Shakira, Madonna and BTS. FIFA hopes the introduction of a halftime music show at this year’s World Cup final will mirror the cultural impact of the NFL Super Bowl halftime spectacle. The World Cup final, already one of the world’s biggest sporting events, attracted more than one billion viewers during the 2022 edition. This year’s final will kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The halftime show’s lineup was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who previously unveiled Shakira, Madonna and BTS as performers in May through a promotional video featuring characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. Coldplay, renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the P.S. 22 Chorus from Staten Island are also set to perform. Although FIFA-regulated matches typically have a 15-minute halftime break, FIFA and Global Citizen said the musical performance will last 11 minutes. The addition of Bieber and Burna Boy broadens the show’s diverse lineup, bringing R&B and Afrobeats alongside pop, Latin and K-pop music.
Bieber, a two-time Grammy Award winner, is known for hit songs including “Baby” and “Never Say Never.” He recently headlined the Coachella music festival in California, delivering an extensive performance that featured some of his biggest hits.Burna Boy, Nigeria’s Grammy-winning Afrobeats star, features on Shakira’s “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of this year’s FIFA World Cup. The pair performed the song during the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City. Burna Boy also previously headlined the halftime show at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
Madonna has won seven Grammy Awards, while Shakira has earned four. BTS made history as the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination. Unlike the Super Bowl, which has long been known for its elaborate halftime entertainment featuring global music stars, football matches traditionally do not include major musical performances during the interval. FIFA and Global Citizen previously tested the concept during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where Doja Cat, Nigerian singer Tems and Colombian star J Balvin performed during halftime. The World Cup final will conclude a month-long tournament featuring the world’s top football nations, with matches being hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/
