International education and advocacy body Global Citizen will work alongside FIFA to organise the first ever FIFA World Cup final half-time show at the newly expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 26™. Hailed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino as “the very best celebration ever”, the “historic” half-time show is the result of a partnership between FIFA and Global Citizen. The multi-year collaboration, announced in September 2024, aims to harness the power of sports and entertainment to change millions of children’s lives.
“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show worthy of the world’s greatest sporting events,” the FIFA President said, with the final set to take place at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, 19 July 2026. “We all know the power of football in uniting the world, but we wanted, actually, to go one step further by merging football and entertainment for some very special, very unique moments at the FIFA World Cup in 2026.”
Hugh Evans, founder and CEO of Global Citizen, provided further details at the recent FIFA Commercial & Media Partners Convention in Dallas, Texas, where the FIFA President also participated live from Zürich, Switzerland. “The FIFA-Global Citizen half-time show will be a world first, a ground-breaking moment where sport, music and culture merge, celebrating football’s unique power to bring us all together,” the Global Citizen CEO said. “It will feature high-energy performances and collaborations from the world’s biggest artists, curated for an American and for a global audience. “We will create an atmosphere unlike anything ever before, an iconic moment that will captivate the globe. And we are targeting two billion viewers, which will offer an unprecedented opportunity for the right partners, creating unmatched reach.”
Infantino also disclosed that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and the band’s manager Phil Harvey would play a pivotal role in curating the lineup for the landmark performance.
In another first, Times Square will become a focal point for fans in New York New Jersey during the World Cup finals weekend in mid-July 2026 with FIFA and Global Citizen taking over screens, plazas, hospitality and viewing areas to transform the landmark site into a FIFA World Cup hub. The iconic intersection will become the location for passionate football supporters, families and friends to create lifelong memories by enjoying live performances from the world’s greatest artists whilst watching the bronze-medal match and the FIFA World Cup final.
The biggest bombshell, however, came during Infantino’s recent appearance on FOX, where he was asked about the possibility of Drake headlining the show — a move that could serve as the ultimate clapback following Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track aimed at the Toronto superstar during last month’s Super Bowl halftime show.
“So we can create a bit of a rivalry. It’s a good idea,” Infantino said, teasing the prospect of Drake gracing the MetLife Stadium stage.
“Actually, Drake was with us when we announced the host cities of the World Cup. I still have his number somewhere.”
While nothing is set in stone, Infantino’s remarks have set social media ablaze with speculation about whether the rap feud could play out on the world’s grandest sporting platform.
