World Cup Final Set to Feature American Football-Style Half Time Show

With the 2026 World Cup being held across the USA, Canada and Mexico, we were always likely to be shown a slightly different interpretation of the beautiful game, or “soccer”, as the Americans so fondly call it.

This became abundantly clear at the World Cup draw which, aside from the somewhat controversial FIFA Peace Prize being awarded to none other than US President Donald Trump, announced that the World Cup final, set to be held in New York on July 29th, 2026, will have its first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: There will be a World Cup final HALF-TIME show just like the Super-Bowl. 🎶

An absolutely DISGUSTING development. pic.twitter.com/9xfafzArL4

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) December 5, 2025

The announcement signals FIFA’s intention to, at least for this instalment of the tournament, align itself closer to the American sports model than ever before, in a bid to increase revenue from the tournament through global broadcast numbers and marketing campaigns.

It’s a brave move, and like every major decision that came before it, the global football fanbase has once again been divided.

No One Wants It

Well, 'divided' is a generous term. The more accurate description would be that the entire football-following world is violently opposed to the idea for a multitude of reasons, and would give their left ear in an attempt to abort the Americanisation of the game that for so long has been considered the world's sport.

#WorldCupDraw this is absolutely awful. Selfies on stage, no subtitles or translations, Football shouldn’t be involved in politics and a half time show for the final! Load of Shite! It is World Football not American Football!

— Mark Wagster (@waggiems) December 5, 2025

America has made big strides with its unique additions to American football, basketball and baseball, and amongst American fanbases, halftime concerts, challenges and cheerleading displays are hugely popular.

In many ways, these ‘extra-curricular’ sideshows are one of the biggest draws for fans away from the attraction of the sport actually happening on the field. However, thousands of fans have voiced their less than supportive opinions, saying it is the last thing that football needs.

For some, the welfare of the players is a primary concern - used to a 15-minute break between halves, a halftime show has the potential to disrupt their rhythm, allow stiffness to set in, and increase the risk of injury, all of which would be a bad look for the World Cup final, undoubtedly the biggest game in football.

Others are simply labelling it as ‘utter woke nonsense’, a phrase we can thank our lord and saviour Sean Dyche for. I can speak for many British fans when I say that many will tune out for the entirety of halftime, whether it be because it will stretch the interval between halves to breaking point or simply because they aren’t a fan of the halftime act. Theoretically, if England were trailing at half-time in the World Cup final, the last thing I would want to hear is Taylor Swift serenading the masses.

Half time show at the WC final? pic.twitter.com/DaHSwd7Oyy

— Phillip barnard (@PhillipBarnard9) December 5, 2025

For the majority, it is simply the deviation from the norm that has frustrated them. Used to 15-minute breaks where they can make a cup of tea, have a quick shower, and sit down to see the second half kick off, very few are excited about the prospect of singing, dancing, and flashing lights taking up an extra hour of their time.

Why Has It Been Introduced?

However, it certainly isn’t the first halftime show that FIFA has introduced. Just this summer at the Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG, football’s governing body inserted a 15-minute exhibition with the likes of J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly headlining the musical act.

Being just 15 minutes long, English football fans could just about sit it out, and with FIFA attempting to appeal to a younger fanbase and those who are more musically orientated, the stunt certainly drew some fresh eyes onto the event.

However, in recent years, the NFL Super Bowl halftime show has consistently run for around half an hour, excluding the time it takes to both put up and take down the sets and decorations put up for the performance.

Half time show for the world cup draw. The game dying right before our eyes #WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/1nI307SGr5

— B (@BitsnThoughts) December 5, 2025

If the World Cup final show runs for this long, FIFA will no doubt see a negative response from fans across the globe, and while the American audience will likely be record-breaking, the same cannot be said for the rest of the global viewership.

FIFA need to tread carefully - it is clear that they are implementing this in a bid to pander to the host country and the hundreds of millions of residents who will no doubt be keeping an eye on it. However, if they are not careful, they could be setting a precedent that could hurt the beautiful game more than it could help it over the next decade or so.

The marketing revenue, younger demographic and the ‘opportunity for story-telling outside of the 90 minutes on the pitch’ are all well and good, but if they make a wrong decision, FIFA could ostracise the one thing that gives them life - their global fan base.