FIFA has announced that a halftime show is taking place during the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey. FIFA's President Gianni Infantino revealed that the lead vocalist of Coldplay, Chris Martin, is included in the organisation of the halftime show and didn't rule out any possibilities of the British band performing. The final will be held on July 16 2026 at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will also host multiple games throughout the tournament.

The football competition, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States, is already under a lot of scrutiny due to various factors. Issues such as carbon emissions and fan travel have been brought to light due to the nature of having three different hosting countries. A lot of attention is also heavily placed on America's current president, Donald Trump (who will be in office during this tournament) and his controversial stance and opinions which has led for calls to boycott. As well as the diplomatic ties between co-hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada, due to this tariff conundrum.

The halftime show news comes as a controversial decision for many football fans due to the apparent American influence of the sport. This sort of American influence is not welcomed by most international fans due to the apparent "American washing" of the sport with more attention placed on producing a spectacle rather than a concentration on the actual games. It is clear that this idea is influenced by the popular Super Bowl halftime show, which has hosted the likes of Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.

However, some fans are embracing this fun idea in terms of a performance during halftime with names such as Pitbull and Shakira being thrown into the hat for potential performers. Some fans say it's a great idea since spectators are already tuned in, and this will provide audience engagement during the given break.

No one knows what FIFA will announce next but if there is one thing that is guaranteed, it is that this tournament will certainly not be like other previous World Cups.

FIFA reveals a World Cup halftime show for the 2026 final