The 2026 World Cup Closing at MetLife Stadium would be the first within the competitors’s historical past to incorporate a half time present, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has introduced.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin will assist FIFA “finalize the listing of artists” who will carry out on July 19, 2026, when New York New Jersey will play host to the largest sport within the footballing calendar. No earlier last has concerned half time performances, in 2022 Qatar’s closing ceremony passed off solely earlier than kick off between Argentina and France with performances from the likes of Gims and Ozuna.
“I can verify the primary ever half-time present at a FIFA World Cup last in New York New Jersey,” mentioned Infantino on Instagram. “This will likely be a historic second for the FIFA World Cup and a present befitting the largest sporting occasion on the earth.”
Midgame spectacles have historically been seen because the purview of the Tremendous Bowl, the place Kendrick Lamar was the headline act final month in New Orleans. A number of the greatest names in music together with Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and, certainly, Coldplay have taken to the stage throughout the NFL’s showpiece season finale, their performances usually lasting 13 minutes. That’s the full half time break in most American Soccer matches, which means that groups spend roughly twice as lengthy within the locker room between halves throughout the Tremendous Bowl as they do for normal season video games.
In soccer, half time lasts quarter-hour. FIFA is but to verify whether or not this will likely be elongated to slot in a half time present, one thing which has not beforehand been tried in any of the game’s greatest video games. Lately the Champions League has drawn main artists to a pre-match present although the likes of Camila Cabello and Lenny Kravitz haven’t drawn significantly rapturous responses from followers within the floor.
Infantino additionally confirmed a “take over” in Occasions Sq. to happen over the weekend of the ultimate and third-place play off. He wrote: “These will likely be two unimaginable matches, that includes a few of the finest gamers on the earth, and what higher option to have a good time them than within the historic Occasions Sq. in New York Metropolis.”
