Justin Bieber may have left World Cup viewers scratching their heads-but he also sent fans rushing to Spotify.
The pop superstar's stripped-down performance of "Everything Hallelujah" during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final halftime show has sparked one of the weekend's biggest streaming surprises. According to new data, the song exploded with a staggering 240% increase in global Spotify streams after Bieber performed it live before millions of viewers.
Instead of delivering crowd-pleasing anthems like "Baby" or newer hits such as "Yukon," Bieber stunned audiences by sitting down with an acoustic guitar to perform the reflective 2025 track. Introduced by Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso, the unexpected performance immediately became one of the most talked-about moments of the halftime spectacle.
Social media quickly erupted with mixed reactions. While some praised Bieber for refusing to follow the usual halftime formula, others questioned why he chose such a subdued, worship-tinged song during one of the world's biggest sporting events. One viral X post joked that Bieber "saw people having fun and decided to ruin the vibe with a boring song."
But the controversy only fueled curiosity.
Google searches for "Justin Bieber song Hallelujah" and "Justin Bieber Hallelujah song" shot to the top of the singer's trending searches as confused viewers tried to figure out whether the track was actually one of Bieber's songs. Many apparently headed straight to Spotify-and the numbers prove it.
The latest streaming boom continues Bieber's remarkable ability to turn headline-making performances into chart momentum. Earlier this year, his surprise Coachella 2026 appearance generated his biggest Spotify day of the year, with more than 24 million streams in a single day, and the momentum continued for weeks afterward.
Love it or hate it, Bieber's unconventional World Cup performance accomplished something many artists dream about: it got the entire internet talking-and listening. Sometimes the most unexpected song choice becomes the biggest winner of all.
