Ted Lasso, Coach Beard Hype Justin Bieber at 2026 World Cup Halftime Show

Q: After a 96-year tradition, is the Super Bowl-style halftime show now a permanent fixture for the World Cup?

No. The 2026 World Cup final introduced the tournament’s first Super Bowl-style halftime show, but there is no confirmed decision that it will now be a permanent feature. What is clear is that FIFA treated the East Rutherford show as a major experiment. It broke a 96-year tradition by inserting an entertainment segment into halftime, with Chris Martin curating a lineup that included Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, BTS and others, while also tying the event to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. FIFA has presented it as a landmark blend of football, music and fundraising. Whether it stays will depend on how FIFA judges the trade-offs. The show created commercial value and global attention, and it helped raise money for education initiatives. But it also drew criticism from football officials, medical experts and traditionalists because the break stretched to about 30 minutes, well beyond the usual 15-minute halftime limit under the Laws of the Game. Critics warned that a longer stoppage can affect player rhythm, muscle temperature and injury risk, and argued that it disrupted the flow of the final. So the evidence points to a trial rather than a settled tradition. FIFA may well repeat it if the audience response, sponsorship returns and operational results are strong enough, but as of now the halftime show is a debut innovation, not an established permanent fixture of future World Cups.

3 articles · Updated · Us Weekly · Jul 19

Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt appeared in character as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard to give Justin Bieber a pre-performance pep talk during the July 19 World Cup halftime show in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Bieber, 32, then took the field with a guitar to sing his 2025 track “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH,” tweaking the closing lyric to “It’s the World Cup hallelujah.”
Shakira followed with “Dai Dai” alongside Burna Boy, then returned with a children’s chorus and Chris Martin for “We Believe”; proceeds from “Dai Dai” go to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Madonna, BTS and the Muppets also appeared earlier in the first-ever World Cup halftime show, while celebrities including Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet and Patrick Mahomes watched from the stands and suites.
Before kickoff, Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem, after which cameras showed President Donald Trump in a private suite with Melania Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino as fans booed.