EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For the first time in the tournament's history, the FIFA World Cup will feature a "Super Bowl-like" halftime show during the final championship match, officials announced Saturday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino jointly announced the first-of-its-kind (for the World Cup, at least) halftime show with Global Citizen – an advocacy organization that produces entertainment events with the goal of ending world poverty – which will produce the show as part of a four-year agreement with FIFA.
Infantino, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, and one of the latter org’s official ambassadors, actor Hugh Jackman made the announcement Saturday at Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, as DJ Khalid and Gayle King looked on.
Typically, the World Cup only holds performances in its Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony, much like The Olympics. In 2026, though, with the World Cup being hosted by North America's three countries, FIFA is adopting the entertainment style of the NFL and the Super Bowl.
“Global Citizen will produce the half-time show – it’s the first time that this happens – in the final here in New York New Jersey in 2026, and we will come out with many, many other joint activities to unite, on one side, the number one sport in the world, and on the other side, an organization which is doing incredible work for the world," Infantino said in a release. "We want to end extreme poverty. We want to educate. This is part of our DNA at FIFA and, strategically, I’m so happy and so proud that we’ve been able to conclude this partnership."
It is unclear whether there will be halftime entertainment at other matches in the World Cup, such as the semifinal being hosted by AT&T Stadium in Arlington. WFAA reached out to FIFA officials for comment on that possibility but has not heard back as of this writing.
AT&T Stadium, while it did not secure the World Cup Final, was awarded more matches in the tournament than any other venue (9). The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11, 2026 and the final at MetLife Stadium will be held on July 19, 2026.
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