Gianni Infantino confirms multiple artists to perform at new World Cup final half-time show

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Martin Macdonald | Author

Gianni Infantino has confirmed that multiple acts will perform in a new World Cup final half-time show.

In March, the FIFA president revealed that, for the first time in history, there would be a musical performance at half-time in the World Cup final, akin to the Super Bowl.

"I can confirm the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey," He wrote on Instagram.

"This will be a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world."

It was also revealed at that time that Coldplay and Chris Martin would "curate" the show by providing a list of artists to FIFA who would shine in front of the billions watching at home.

No acts have been confirmed yet, but what we do know is that more than one will be involved.

At the Semafor World Economy Summit, Infantino was asked whether there will be celebrity involvement in the World Cup final and he responded:

"Yes, well, of course we are, we are involving, you know, in the World Cup, all the celebrities that, that you can imagine from, from other sports, from America.

"I mean we had Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, and others (at the World Cup group stage draw in December) already, they love it. We will have for the first time in history actually at the final, which is taking place on the 19th of July in New York, New Jersey.

"We'll have for the first time ever a halftime show, a halftime show, curated by, Chris Martin and Coldplay, so, 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. It's the first time in history."

For years, football fans shrugged at the Americanisation of the sport. While the Super Bowl half-time show is one of the biggest showpiece events in all of sports, football fans outside of North America don't believe the sport needs such a thing.

The Champions League final has already embraced pre-match shows but this will be the first time in history that the World Cup final has a musical performance of any kind at half-time.

Football fans should probably prepare for an extended half-time break, too. While normal NFL matches have a 15-minute break, the same as in soccer, the Super Bowl is extended to 30 minutes to allow for the set-up and dismantling of the production.

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