FIFA’s Bold Move: A Super Bowl-Style Halftime Show for the 2026 World Cup Final
In a groundbreaking move that is sure to stir up excitement and perhaps a bit of controversy, the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup final, set to take place in the United States, will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show. This announcement was made by none other than FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who took to Instagram to share the news with the world.
The grand stage for this historic event will be MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will temporarily be rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the tournament. This venue was officially announced in February 2024 as the host for the World Cup final, scheduled for July 19, 2026.
Now, you might be wondering how this will all work, given that a typical halftime break in football is a mere 15 minutes. Infantino has assured fans that a “list of artists” will perform during this brief intermission, although details on how the logistics will be managed remain under wraps.
Infantino’s Instagram post read, “I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
For those who follow American football, the Super Bowl halftime show is a cultural phenomenon in its own right. This year’s show was headlined by rap artist Kendrick Lamar during the clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. Previous years have seen performances by Usher, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, and The Weeknd, with these shows often extending up to 30 minutes to allow for the construction and dismantling of elaborate stages.
As of now, FIFA and Infantino have not disclosed whether the World Cup final will have an extended halftime to accommodate the show. However, Infantino did mention that the band Coldplay will be involved in advising FIFA on the production of the show, as well as orchestrating a so-called Times Square takeover during the final weekend.
Infantino elaborated, “We also spoke about how FIFA will takeover Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, during both the bronze final match and final. These will be two incredible matches, featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City.”
He went on to express his gratitude to Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be collaborating with FIFA to finalize the list of artists for the halftime show and the Times Square events.
- MetLife Stadium will be known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
- The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, 2026.
- Coldplay will assist in producing the halftime show and Times Square events.
- No confirmation yet on whether the halftime will be extended.
As we look forward to this unprecedented event, one thing is certain: the 2026 World Cup final is shaping up to be a spectacle unlike any other. With the promise of a halftime show that rivals the Super Bowl, fans around the globe will be eagerly anticipating not just the action on the pitch, but the entertainment off it as well.
Originally Written by: Mark Ogden
