FIFA president Gianni Infantino has ignited a firestorm of debate by announcing that the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey will feature the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show—an unprecedented move that is already dividing fans and football purists.
In a shocking revelation, Infantino also disclosed that Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will have the power to decide which artists perform at the event, raising eyebrows about FIFA’s increasing prioritization of entertainment over the sport itself.
“I can confirm the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York/New Jersey,” Infantino posted on Instagram. “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
The decision, which was made public following a meeting with FIFA’s commercial and media partners in Dallas, has been met with fierce backlash from football traditionalists. Critics argue that FIFA is turning the World Cup final into a spectacle designed for corporate sponsors and American audiences, rather than focusing on the game itself.
“Football is not the NFL,” wrote one fan on social media. “This is supposed to be about the sport, not a concert.” Others pointed out that halftime in football matches is typically short, leaving questions about how FIFA plans to integrate a full-scale musical performance without disrupting the flow of the game.
While Infantino did not provide further details on the duration or structure of the show, the move mirrors last year’s Copa América final in Miami, where Colombian pop star Shakira performed at halftime—a move that also sparked mixed reactions.
Adding to the spectacle, Infantino announced FIFA’s plans to “take over” New York’s Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, fueling speculation that FIFA is pushing to make the World Cup more of an entertainment-driven event.
With the 2026 tournament set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the decision appears to be another step in FIFA’s ongoing Americanization of the sport—one that is already proving highly divisive.
