FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in the United States will feature a halftime show for the first time in history.

Infantino promises a spectacular event

Never before in the history of the tournament—since the first World Cup in 1930—has there been a halftime show. However, Infantino has now confirmed a major break from tradition. I can confirm the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show in New York/New Jersey, in collaboration with Global Citizen, Infantino announced on Instagram. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup, a show worthy of the biggest sporting event in the world.

Infantino also revealed that FIFA is working with the British band Coldplay to produce the event. Coldplay previously performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2016, featuring Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. While Infantino did not confirm whether Coldplay will perform at the 2026 final, he stated that the band will help select the lineup of artists. According to official football rules set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), halftime should not exceed 15 minutes. It is still unclear whether this rule will be modified to accommodate the show, as seen in the Super Bowl.

In addition to confirming the halftime show, Infantino announced that both the third-place match and the final will be part of a special event in Times Square, New York. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament’s opening match will take place on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

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