The 2026 World Cup final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, New York and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed a radical change for half-time
Super Bowl: Kendrick Lamar performs during half time show
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced that the 2026 World Cup will have a Super Bowl-style half-time show.
Infantino says that a ‘list of artists’ will perform during the 15-minute break in next year’s final. It was confirmed in January 2024 that the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the shared home of NFL rivals the New York Jets and New York Giants, will host the showpiece on July 19, 2026.
In a post on Instagram, Infantino announced: “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.”
Rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined this year’s Super Bowl half-time show, as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. Previous artitsts to headline the Super Bowl include Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna.
Those shows last up to 30 minutes, as a stage needs to be built and dismantled on the pitch. FIFA are yet to confirm whether or not the Word Cup final will have an extended half-time break to accommodate the show.
Infantino also said that members of Coldplay will help advise FIFA on how to produce the show. A so-called Times Square takeover will also be staged during the final weekend of the tournament when the third-placed play-off also takes place.
“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,” Infantino added.
Should the World Cup final have a half-time show? Have your say in the comments section.
“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. 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.”
The 2026 World Cup also takes place acros Canada and Mexico. The opening game of the tournament will be held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. That’s one of 13 games which will take place at Mexican stadiums, with Canada hosting the same amount. The USA will host the remaining 22.
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