 "Closing ceremony before the 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France. Image: Reuters")
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the final will include a Super Bowl-style halftime show. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed this groundbreaking development, marking a significant shift in the way the World Cup finale is presented to audiences worldwide. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a halftime show
The highly anticipated final will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026. Infantino took to Instagram to share the news, describing it as a “historic moment” for the sport and an opportunity to elevate the biggest sporting event in the world.
“I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey, in association with (advocacy organization) Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino posted on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalise the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square,” Infantino wrote.
FIFA is working with Coldplay member Chris Martin to produce the half-time show for the grand finale in 2026. However, incorporating a performance within the FIFA World Cup’s 15-minute halftime presents a logistical challenge. The Super Bowl halftime extends to nearly 30 minutes. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance ran for 13 minutes, not including setup and breakdown, highlighting the need for meticulous execution to keep the World Cup final’s show within the allotted time.
Traditionally, World Cup finals have focused solely on the on-field action, with halftime serving as a brief tactical and recovery break for teams. However, FIFA’s decision to introduce a halftime entertainment spectacle shows the growing trend of merging sports and pop culture.