Justin Bieber has been added to the star-studded lineup of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, organizers confirmed. The Canadian megastar joins Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop sensation BTS for the Super Bowl-style performance on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The entire musical extravaganza, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will last 11 minutes. This marks a first for a football World Cup final and has raised concerns about the length of the halftime break, as football laws allow an interval "not exceeding 15 minutes." However, the announcement alleviates fears that the show could stretch to 25 minutes.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated the halftime show will be "definitely the biggest stage ever," with "a couple of billion" expected to tune in. The performance will also feature characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, supporting FIFA's Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for children worldwide.

"The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can," Bieber said in a statement. "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."

Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy and Venezuelan classical conductor Gustavo Dudamel were also added to the lineup. Coldplay will collaborate with the PS22 Chorus, an acclaimed choir from a New York public elementary school. Hugh Evans, cofounder and CEO of Global Citizen, called it "the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid."

Source: www.aljazeera.com