FIFA World Cup Final to get halftime show in 2026
The next FIFA World Cup is set to be grander as it will feature a Super Bowl-like halftime show in its 2026 final game.
FIFA and Global Citizen, an organization advocating for the end of world poverty, announced the inclusion of the performance as part of a four-year agreement.
The goal isn't just to put on a show but to increase awareness of advocacies such as ending extreme poverty and increasing access to sports and quality education.
The first halftime show will take place at the final World Cup game in the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026. No performer has been announced yet.
"Through this partnership, FIFA and Global Citizen will bring together the worlds of sport and entertainment to actively contribute to a better world. We are committing to a series of joint activities that will help promote access to football and engage fans of the sport in an effort to create positive change in their local communities," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
FIFA also announced the 10 US cities hosting the 2025 games, including Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Nashville, Washington, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Orlando.
Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said that as five billion people watched the last FIFA World Cup, the partnership has a "remarkable" opportunity to reach more people.
The idea of a halftime show for the World Cup was floated earlier in the year when The New York Times published a piece asking "Would a halftime show work for the World Cup or Champions League final?"
Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar is set to headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, following Usher and Rihanna's performances the previous years.
