On 5th March 2025, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the 2026 World Cup final will feature a halftime show- a novel, Super Bowl-esque twist for the tournament. U.S., Canada, and Mexico will co-host next year’s global football showpiece with the halftime show set to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19th July 2026.
Infantino made this known on Wednesday morning via an Instagram post. “A show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world will take place after the first 45 minutes,” the post read. The FIFA President also announced that FIFA will collaborate with British pop- rock band, Coldplay to select the musical performers for the halftime show. However, it remains unclear whether FIFA will extend the regular halftime interval to accommodate the performance.
The halftime show was presumably inspired by American Football’s Super Bowl. This global spectacle attracts millions of viewers yearly and has featured legendary performers such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Rihanna. Coldplay themselves have performed at the Super Bowl, headlining the 2016 halftime show along with Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
FIFA anticipates the halftime show will be as successful as the Super Bowl’s. However, the announcement has been met with mixed reactions. This article explores whether the World Cup halftime show can replicate the Super Bowl’s spectacle and how receptive fans are likely to be to the idea.
Is the Super Bowl halftime show the benchmark for the World Cup’s success?
Over the decades, the Super Bowl halftime show has evolved into a highly anticipated entertainment spectacle. A 2024 survey by Deloitte revealed that Gen Z’s are more likely to consume content via social media and live streams than traditional television broadcasts. This shift in viewing habits explains why the NFL has prioritized younger, trendier artists to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in recent years.
FIFA’s decision to introduce a halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final follows the remarkable success of the Super Bowl halftime show. The 2025 edition headlined by Kendrick Lamar, drew a record 133.5 million viewers and featured special guests such as SZA, Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams.
Since its inception in 1967, the Super Bowl halftime show has hosted many renowned artists. Usher performed in 2024, and Rihanna took the stage a year prior. Along with Lamar, they recorded the highest
viewership numbers in recent years, with Usher attracting 123.4 million viewers and Rihanna drawing 121 million.
In fact, the Super Bowl halftime show now rivals the game itself in viewership. If FIFA needs a benchmark for a halftime show success, then it shouldn’t look any further than the very event that inspired its decision.
The appeal of the Super Bowl halftime show extends beyond sports fans. Music fans, pop culture lovers, and casual viewers all tune in, generating massive social media engagement. Millions of posts, comments, and trending moments emerge from the performances each year. As FIFA prepares to stage its first-ever halftime show in World Cup history, it hopes to replicate the Super Bowl’s success and cultural impact.
Does the World Cup halftime show have the potential to match Super Bowl’s spectacle?
The short answer is yes, but it’s more complicated than that. Looking at the numbers, a World Cup halftime show would have a massive built-in audience, far surpassing that of the Super Bowl. For instance, the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar was watched by a whopping 1.5 billion people, compared to the 2025 Super Bowl, which drew 133.5 million viewers.
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” Infantino posted on Instagram. He also revealed FIFA’s plans to take over New York’s Times Square during the weekend of the third-place playoff and the final, stating: “These will be two incredible matches featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City.”
Despite the numbers, a successful halftime show requires more than just viewership. The Super Bowl halftime show has become deeply ingrained in its culture. First, an NFL game lasts an average of 3 hours and 14 minutes, and fans expect a break in the action- making the halftime show a seamless part of the experience.
By comparison, football matches last just 90 minutes, with a 15-minute halftime break. Fans typically use this time to grab refreshments, use the restroom or stretch, while the players go down the tunnel to their respective changing rooms to focus on tactical discussions and warm-ups. This presents a challenge- can FIFA convince football purists to embrace a new halftime tradition?
While a halftime show would be unique, FIFA is no stranger to large-scale entertainment. The World Cup’s opening and closing ceremonies have long been grand cultural showcases, setting the tone for the tournament.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar drew over 1.8 million visitors to the FIFA Fan Festival, which featured live music performances, match broadcasts, and interactive entertainment. The tournament itself reached 5 billion viewers globally, with 1.5 billion tuning in for the final alone. On social media, the final generated 93.6 million posts, breaking engagement records.
Previous World Cup tournaments have also featured high-profile artists, such as Jung Kook of BTS (2022). These performances create a festive atmosphere, generating buzz around the tournament.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa remains one of the most memorable editions, as it was the first time the tournament was hosted in Africa. The opening ceremony at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium showcased Africa’s unique culture, energy, and spirit, while Shakira’s “Waka Waka” became a global anthem.
In 2018, Russia’s World Cup featured a grand opening at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where British pop star Robbie Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina delivered captivating performances.
These ceremonies suggest that FIFA has the potential to match the Super Bowl spectacle- if executed correctly. With at least 1.5 billion viewers expected for the 2026 final in the U.S., a well-curated halftime show could be a massive success. Supporters of FIFA’s halftime initiative argue that the NFL’s model has proven that sports entertainment has evolved. If done right, the World Cup halftime show could enhance the fan experience and become an integral part of football’s biggest event.
Will football fans embrace a halftime show?
Without a doubt, many fans will view FIFA’s decision to introduce a halftime show at the World Cup as yet another attempt to commercialize their beloved sport. This comes in the wake of the FIFA Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger’s controversial proposal to make the World Cup a biennial event.
On the other hand, some fans welcome FIFA’s decision, seeing it as a long-overdue innovation. American fans, in particular, are likely to embrace it, given their familiarity with Super Bowl halftime shows. However, the truth remains: football is not the NFL. The two sports differ fundamentally- not just in how they are played, but also how fans experience them.
There are several reasons why even the players themselves might loathe the idea of a halftime show. First, football is a fundamentally different sport from the NFL in terms of intensity, rhythm, structure, tactics, and physicality. Unlike the Super Bowl, a football match itself is the spectacle. The tackles, saves, and dribbles prove the drama, making an additional show feel unnecessary. The NFL also has multiple breaks in the form of timeouts, 2 minute warnings (unlike football, which has a single break), that naturally allow for entertainment.
As debate continues over FIFA’s decision, fans and pundits have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Some have outrightly rejected the idea:
“How on earth are they going to set everything up, have a concert, take everything apart, and allow subs to warm up in a 15-minute window? Increasing the window means a higher risk of muscles seizing up as well. Daft idea,” a Reddit user posted.
Rory Jennings- a TalkSport pundit also called the idea “totally unnecessary.” However, not everyone is opposed. Many fans are excited about the prospect of a halftime show, believing it could inject fresh energy and excitement to the tournament.
Supporters have already begun speculating about potential performers and performances, with many suggesting big-name artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, or Taylor Swift. Others have also proposed incorporating traditional music and dance from the host country or featuring up-and-coming artists.
Conclusion
Introducing an ‘NFL-styled’ halftime show at the FIFA World Cup final could be a game-changer for the tournament. It offers increased entertainment, an enhanced fan experience, and a fresh appeal to younger fans. While many fans are excited about the halftime show, others have voiced strong opposition and would prefer football stick to its traditions rather than mimic the NFL.
One thing is certain: the World Cup has the potential to deliver a halftime show that rivals the Super Bowl’s spectacle and success. However, one of its significant challenges lies in fitting the performance into the 15-minute half-time break without disrupting the game’s flow or the players’ rhythm.
