The Canadian singer performed “Everything Hallelujah,” a stripped-back acoustic ballad from his recent album SWAG II centered on gratitude, Christian faith and praise to Jesus Christ.
Justin Bieber delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on Sunday, stepping onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium with an acoustic guitar to perform a Christian worship anthem before a global audience of hundreds of millions.
Introduced by “Ted Lasso” stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt following an energetic stadium production featuring BTS, Bieber abandoned the elaborate choreography and pop spectacle typically associated with halftime shows. Instead, the Canadian singer performed "Everything Hallelujah," an acoustic ballad from his recent album SWAG II centered on gratitude, Christian faith and praise to Jesus Christ.
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/2078940132166750448?s=20
The performance transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium, with the crowd joining Bieber in singing the chorus. The word "Hallelujah" comes from the Hebrew Bible and means "Praise the Lord," with the song focusing on giving thanks to God through both triumphs and hardship. Bieber closed the performance by changing the final chorus to a special "World Cup Hallelujah" dedicated to the tournament. In contrast to the performances delivered by fellow halftime artists Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Burna Boy, Bieber ditched pyrotechnics and visual effects.
The halftime show came before Spain defeated Argentina to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in front of a packed MetLife Stadium. President Donald Trump joined FIFA officials for the trophy presentation after the final whistle, handing medals and presenting the World Cup trophy to Spain's victorious players. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been widely regarded as one of the biggest sporting events ever staged. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the expanded 48-team tournament shattered attendance records.
Bieber's performance also marked the first World Cup to feature an official halftime show during the final, blending the game with entertainment on a scale previously reserved for events such as the Super Bowl. Sunday's finale capped weeks of sold-out stadiums, dramatic knockout matches and record international viewership, concluding one of the largest sporting spectacles in history.
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