For the first time in FIFA history, they are having a halftime performance during the championship game. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup is an international soccer tournament that occurs every four years.
FIFA was founded by Robert Guérin in 1904 to promote soccer and to create friendly relations between national associations, and in 1930, FIFA created the World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada, all playing for the gold trophy and title of World Champions.
Out of the 48 teams, eight teams are from Asia, nine from Africa, six from North America, 16 from Europe, six from South America, one from Oceania and two additional teams which will be decided in the intercontinental playoffs.
“I’m excited for the World Cup because I’ve been watching it since I was a kid,” Sebastian Michels, JHS junior soccer player, said.
The tournament’s first match will begin on June 11, and the final match will be on July 19, 2026.
For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup finale game will have a halftime show performer. Much like the Super Bowl, where an artist performs during the halftime of the game, FIFA has been inspired to do the same for its tournament.
The British band, Coldplay, has confirmed that they will perform at the MetLife Center Stadium during halftime of the championship game on July 19, 2026.
The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, confirmed Coldplay will be performing at the World Cup in an Instagram post, saying it would be a historic moment for FIFA and its future.
Coldplay is a popular band and because of it, their performance has also interested many soccer fans who are unfamiliar with their music.
“I think it a very good idea to have a halftime show because it can bring in more of an audience,” Erick Garcia, JHS junior soccer player, said.
Not only will the 2026 World Cup bring in FIFA fans, but Coldplay fans are also excited to see their favorite band perform at the world’s most popular sporting event which will help FIFA bring in more attendance to the MetLife center stands.
“It’s awesome that Coldplay is performing and I think they’re really good at getting a stadium engaged. Even if they’re not fans of Coldplay, I know a lot of people will enjoy their performance,” Cora Boschen, freshman, said.
The World Cup tickets started to go on sale in early 2025 and will run until July. As it gets closer to July, seats will start to fill up, so it’s recommended to buy your tickets soon.
The opening match tickets will cost $5 to $310, group play tickets will cost $15 to $230, round of sixteen tickets will cost $20 to $290, quarterfinal tickets will cost $85 to $450, semifinal tickets will cost $140 to $960, third-place match tickets will cost $85 to $450 and the final game tickets will cost around $323, while the most expensive ticket for a skybox or business suite could run $4,307.
