FIFA World Cup Final to Feature Super Bowl-Style Halftime Show in the United States
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the 2026 final in the United States will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show, marking a significant shift in the global tournament’s entertainment offerings.
The highly anticipated final, set to take place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—officially branded as “New York New Jersey Stadium” for the event—will showcase a halftime spectacle akin to the iconic performances seen during the Super Bowl. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the news on Instagram, calling it a “historic moment for the FIFA World Cup.”
Coldplay to Curate Star-Studded Halftime Lineup
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, alongside the band’s manager Phil Harvey, will assist FIFA in finalizing the lineup of artists set to perform. While it remains unclear whether Coldplay themselves will take the stage, the band brings significant experience, having headlined the Super Bowl 50 halftime show alongside Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
“This will be a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino stated, emphasizing FIFA’s partnership with Global Citizen, an advocacy organization involved in the production.
FIFA Adopts U.S. Sporting Traditions
The move signals FIFA’s embrace of American entertainment traditions as the World Cup returns to the U.S. for the first time since 1994. The halftime format, typically limited to 15 minutes in soccer matches, could see an extended break similar to the Super Bowl, which runs over 30 minutes. However, FIFA has yet to confirm the exact duration.
This shift follows a precedent set by North American soccer events, including Shakira’s 25-minute halftime show during the Copa América final. With FIFA’s planned “takeover” of Times Square for the tournament’s final weekend, the event is shaping up to be a fusion of world-class soccer and grand-scale entertainment.
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