Justin Bieber needed a little pep talk before taking the pitch at the 2026 World Cup Halftime show. Thankfully, he had some seasoned coaches to hype him up.
During the Sunday, July 19, halftime performance in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Jason Sudeikis dressed as the beloved fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso alongside onscreen sidekick Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt).
After Sudeikis, 50, said to Hunt, 54, that they needed someone who could “bring the love,” Bieber, 32, appeared on screen with his guitar. Hunt then held up a screen that read, “JB” with the iconic Ted Lasso “Believe” sign taped on it, reading, “Beliebe.”
“Alright young man, let’s go. It’s your big shot,” Sudeikis told Bieber before his performance. “OK, now listen to me. Go out there. Don’t be nervous. Nobody’s watching, alright? Make us proud.”
Bieber nodded along before transitioning to sing his hit 2025 track “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH.” The musician concluded his performance by altering the lyrics to say, “It’s the World Cup hallelujah,” smiling for the camera.
As his song came to an end, Shakira then took the stage to perform “Dai Dai,” the proceeds of which go to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with Burna Boy.
“The World Cup has been part of my journey for a long time, so being invited to perform at the first-ever halftime show feels incredibly meaningful,” Shakira told Vogue in an interview published on Sunday. “To get up and perform this song on the world’s biggest stage is going to be electric.”
For the performance, Shakira stunned in a custom Roberto Cavalli look — which was a call back to her 2010 World Cup closing ceremony performance of “Waka Waka,” something she called a “full circle moment.”
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Shakira was then joined by a children’s chorus and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to sing “We Believe.” As the camera pulled back from the field, the word “Love” was displayed. Madonna, BTS and the Muppets also took the stage earlier in the halftime show as defending champions Spain took on Argentina.
While the halftime show was star-studded, the stands were also filled with several celebs including Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Timothée Chalamet. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wife Brittany Mahomes also smiled for a photo inside a private suite.
Ahead of the game, Jennifer Hudson took the stage to sing a rendition of the national anthem. When the song came to an end, cameras panned to President Donald Trump — and was loudly booed by fans in attendance. The president sat in a private suite with wife Melania and FIFA president Gianni Infantino for Sunday’s game.
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