FIFA introduces a break spectacle during the World Cup final

FIFA introduces a break spectacle during the World Cup final

Football fans and beyond will be drawn to what will unfold on screen: FIFA President Gianni Infantino expects a captivating half-time show during the World Cup final. This show will take place at the upcoming tournament. In the United States, this idea is associated with the Super Bowl, but Germany offers a less encouraging example.

Echoes of Helene Fischer at the DFB Cup final echo: FIFA, the world football governing body, is planning a half-time show at the men’s World Cup final. Already on July 19, 2026, the New York-New Jersey Stadium will offer an entertaining program during halftime. FIFA has confirmed this.

Rumor has it that Global Citizen, an organization that works to combat global poverty, will host the show. Details about the program or the musical acts are not yet known. According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the show aims to connect the worlds of sport and entertainment.

In the USA, halftime shows at the Super Bowl in American football have long been established. Artists like Usher have rocked the stage, drawing not only sports fans but television viewers as well. However, the halftime break in the Super Bowl is significantly longer than the 15 minutes in a football game. NFL rules require this, but back in 2009 FIFA tried to extend halftime to 20 minutes. This attempt was made again in 2021 to extend the break to 25 minutes. Unfortunately, both attempts were unsuccessful.

Controversial commercialization

But the idea of ​​half-time entertainment is not new in football either. In 2017, the German Football Association tried to include a concert by Schlager star Helene Fischer in the final of the DFB Cup. The protests from the fan scenes were violent, Fischer was booed. The concert remains the only major half-time entertainment show at the official cup final in Berlin. Meanwhile, there’s an example from South America: pop sensation Shakira performed at this year’s Copa América final – a first in the tournament’s history.

The 2026 World Cup promises innovation. For the first time, 48 teams will take part instead of 32. The teams are divided into twelve groups of four teams each, with the top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout phase. The knockout phase will include 32 teams. To win the title, the athletes have to play eight games – one more than when officially defending their title.

Following the controversy surrounding Helene Fischer’s concert at the 2017 DFB Cup final, FIFA is planning a more subtle form of half-time entertainment for the men’s World Cup final. Despite the criticism, other soccer events such as the 2022 Copa América final have successfully incorporated musical acts into their half-time shows.

Football fans around the world are looking forward to the halftime show at the 2026 World Cup, where “Global Citizen” will present an entertaining program. This innovation in football entertainment reflects the popular tradition of halftime shows at major American football events such as the Super Bowl.

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