The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature its first-ever half-time musical show, with Coldplay helping to select the performing artists. FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement, confirming the historic event will take place at the final in New York/New Jersey.

The performance faces unique timing challenges, as FIFA World Cup half-time breaks last only 15 minutes, compared to the NFL Super Bowl's 30-minute break. This shorter window must accommodate both stage setup and the actual performance.

FIFA aims to rival Super Bowl viewership numbers, with this year's Super Bowl LIV half-time show drawing 133.5 million viewers. Coldplay's Chris Martin and manager Phil Harvey will help produce the show and finalize the performer list, though it's unclear if the band will perform.

Additional celebrations will include FIFA taking over Times Square during the final weekend, featuring special events during both the bronze final match and the championship game.

The event is being organized in association with Global Citizen, marking a significant evolution in World Cup entertainment. FIFA has not yet announced whether the standard 15-minute half-time break will be extended to accommodate the performance.

Related Articles

Previous Articles