World Cup plans first halftime show, and fans have feelings

Context: The 2026 World Cup runs June 11–July 19, 2026, in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It will generate a massive economic impact for host cities.

What they're saying: In a statement confirming the halftime show in New Jersey, Infantino described it as a "historic moment" for the tournament, adding that it's "befitting the biggest sporting event in the world."

What to expect: What a halftime show will look like is still unclear, including whether or not halftime will be extended to accommodate the show.

• "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 higher risk of muscles seizing up as well. Daft idea," one Reddit user posted.
• Infantino also said FIFA will "takeover Times Square for the final weekend" of the tournament during the final and the third-place match.
• Coldplay's Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will work with FIFA on the list of performers for the halftime show and Times Square event, per Infantino.

Between the lines: Performances associated with the tournament aren't uncommon, and the tournament typically includes an official anthem, like Shakira's "Waka Waka" for the 2010 World Cup. But FIFA has never included a halftime show during the final.

The big picture: Halftime shows are common in the U.S. Some people tune into the Super Bowl just to watch the halftime show. Last month's Super Bowl drew 127.7 million viewers, per Nielsen data, making it the most-viewed Super Bowl and U.S. telecast of all time, Axios' Sara Fischer reported.

The bottom line: Even though the World Cup final will be held in the U.S., some fans are saying, "Stop Yankifying this sport."