Photo Credit: Fauzan Saari
The 2026 World Cup is taking a page out of the NFL’s playbook with a musical half-time performance. Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, announced the move—stating Coldplay would help choose the performers.
The NFL’s Super Bowl half-time typically lasts about half an hour, while the FIFA World Cup half-time is closer to 15 minutes. This year’s Super Bowl half-time performer Kendrick Lamar’s set ran 13 minutes—one of the longer sets in Super Bowl history. The shorter half-time will introduce logistical pressures as the stage must be set up and the performance must be over within the given time.
“I can confirm the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York/New Jersey, in association with Global Citizen,” Infantino posted on Instagram. “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show benefitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
“We also spoke about how FIFA will take over Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, during both the bronze final match and final. 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.”
FIFA is hoping to attract as many eyeballs as the Super Bowl does—seeing the musical half-time show as one avenue to greater viewership. This year’s Super Bowl LIV performance in New Orleans attracted a record-breaking 133.5 million viewers of the half-time show. With Coldplay assisting FIFA in choosing the first half-time performers, it will be interesting to see if the event resonates with soccer watchers next year.
It has not been clarified whether Coldplay will perform, but Chris Martin and Coldplay manager Phil Harvey are on board to help produce the show. “I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalize the list of artists who will perform during the half-time show, as well as at Times Square,” Infantino concludes his message. It’s unclear if the usual half-time will be extended to accommodate stage set-up and performance time.
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