Kendrick performs that song Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirmed on Wednesday that the 2026 World Cup final will feature a similar halftime show. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Wednesday that the 2026 World Cup will embrace American culture by including a Super Bowl-style half-time show for the final of the tournament.
The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, unlike the 1994 final, which was played in California.
"I can confirm the first ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey," Infantino said on his official page on Instagram..
"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.
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"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."
Infantino added that Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, as well as the band's manager Phil Harvey, will put together a list of potential performers, as well as produce the show.
According to FIFA's laws on how the game should be run, half time breaks should be no longer than 15 minutes. An introduction of a half-time show will necessitate the need for a much longer period between halves.
The announcement didn't sit well with a few football fans on X, with one saying, "game's officially gone," and another labeling it as "utter woke nonsense".
However, there were a few fans who got behind the idea. "This is going to be epic! Can't wait for the halftime show," said one fan, while another added: "This is a good innovation, thank you FIFA."
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the US getting a bulk of the fixtures, including all of the games from the quarter-final stage of the tournament. The US previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, which saw Brazil beat Italy in the final to win a record fourth crown.
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