FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted at a major entertainment shift for the 2026 World Cup, teasing a potential Coldplay-led halftime show for the final.
For decades, the World Cup final has been defined purely by football, with no break in play for large-scale entertainment like other major sporting events.
That could now be about to change, as FIFA looks to introduce a new element that brings global music and sport together on its biggest stage.
Gianni Infantino teases Coldplay role in World Cup halftime show
Speaking in comments shared via Semafor, Infantino outlined plans to bring major entertainment figures into the tournament.
“Yes, well, of course, we’re involving in the World Cup, all the celebrities that you can imagine from other sports, I mean, we had Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal in our events,” Infantino said.
He added, “We will have, for the first time in history, at the finals, we’ll have for the first time ever a halftime show. A halftime show, curated by Chris Martin and Coldplay.”
The comments confirm a significant change, with the World Cup final set to feature a halftime performance for the first time.
It also signals FIFA’s intent to blend sport and entertainment on a much larger scale.
World Cup halftime show set to feature multiple artists
While Coldplay’s involvement has been teased, Infantino made it clear the event will go beyond a single act.
“I cannot yet tell you which artists will be performing, but it’s not one, it’s more than one. And it will be the biggest in the world. It will be fantastic,” the FIFA president added.
The approach mirrors other major sporting events that have turned halftime shows into global attractions, such as the Super Bowl.
For FIFA, it represents an opportunity to expand the World Cup’s reach beyond football audiences.
If delivered as described, the 2026 final could mark a new era for how the biggest match in world football is presented.
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