breaking news

NIGERIA: Neymar Set For Sensational Return To Boyhood Club Santos****KENYA: Rongo Member Of Parliament Paul Abuor Arrested In Kenya Over Ksh.122M Constituency Development Fund Fraud****Malawi Red Cross Society Faces K3 Billion Deficit in Supporting Mozambique Asylum Seekers****NIGERIA: Fear Of Unemployment Pushed Me Into Tomato Business, I Now Import Trailer Loads From Ghana, Cameroon – Port Harcourt Based Business Woman****South Sudan Cabinet Approves Truth And Reparation Commissions

← Previous Post

FIFA To Introduce Super Bowl-Style Half-Time Show At 2026 World Cup Final

Sports

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

For the first time in World Cup history, the final match of the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement via his Instagram account on Wednesday.

He confirmed that the highly anticipated final in New Jersey will break new ground with a high-profile entertainment segment at half-time — a tradition long associated with American football’s Super Bowl.

According to Infantino, the musical lineup for the show will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, adding an extra layer of star power to the global sporting event.

“I can confirm the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York/New Jersey. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino wrote.

The announcement followed a meeting of FIFA’s commercial and media partners in Dallas, as preparations ramp up for the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

While Infantino did not disclose the full details of the planned show — including its length or the specific artists set to perform — the move highlights FIFA’s desire to blend sports and entertainment on an unprecedented scale for the global football spectacle.

The concept draws inspiration from the Copa America final in 2024, when Colombian superstar Shakira delivered a live performance at half-time during the championship match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Infantino also revealed that FIFA plans to host a massive fan celebration in New York’s iconic Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, further underscoring efforts to turn the World Cup finale into a multi-day entertainment and cultural festival.

The 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team format, will kick off in June, with matches spread across cities in North America before culminating in the landmark final in New Jersey.