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FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup — which will take place in various cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico — will be the first tournament to feature a halftime show during the final match.
Why It Scores: In case you weren’t just reminded during last month’s Super Bowl, halftime shows are a big deal — big viewership drivers, big marketing plays, and big cultural moments. Soccer just so happens to be the biggest sport in the world. So, a halftime show during the biggest match of its biggest tournament is… well… big. (We promise not to use that word for the rest of the newsletter.)
Behind the Play: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host what could be the bi… err… the most in-demand single concert in modern history on July 19th, 2026.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and the band’s manager, Phil Harvey, will assist in short-listing artists for the show.
- It’s a major extension of FIFA’s relationship with the music industry — there’s usually an official anthem created for each edition of the tournament.
- Although it’s not confirmed, it would only make sense that halftime will need to be extended to fit in the show component — halftimes in soccer historically are only 15 minutes long.
The Future: It’s amazing that FIFA hasn’t organized a halftime show until now. While this year’s Super Bowl scored a record 127.7 million viewers, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show notched even more — 133.5 million viewers. That’s a major win for all involved. Considering the global audiences for the World Cup, don’t be surprised if the competition for the halftime-show slot becomes the international battle of the year.
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