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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