For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup final will include a Super Bowl-style half-time show, with British rock band Coldplay helping to select a lineup of artists for the performance.
The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will conclude with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
While pre-match entertainment is common at major sporting events like the Champions League final, FIFA has never before staged a half-time show during the World Cup final.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the addition, stating that Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin and band manager Phil Harvey will play a key role in curating the list of performers for the 15-minute segment.
“I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey,” Infantino announced on Instagram.
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
The move follows the long-standing tradition of elaborate Super Bowl half-time shows, which extend the usual 15-minute break to 30 minutes to accommodate large-scale performances.
This year’s Super Bowl half-time show in New Orleans, headlined by rapper Kendrick Lamar, set a new viewership record with 133.5 million viewers across the U.S., surpassing Michael Jackson’s legendary 1993 performance.
Coldplay previously headlined the Super Bowl half-time show in 2016, joining a star-studded list of past performers that includes Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga.
While FIFA has yet to reveal the final lineup for the 2026 World Cup show, the inclusion of a halftime performance marks a significant shift in the tournament’s entertainment approach, blending football with global music spectacle.
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