2026 World Cup final to have Super Bowl-style show: Infantino

FFIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and FIFA Vice President Vittorio Montagliani stand with the World Cup trophy on June 16, 2022 in New York. (AP file photo)
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Updated 06 March 2025
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2026 World Cup final to have Super Bowl-style show: Infantino

  • Infantino: This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world
  • The move mirrors the show held during the final of last year’s Copa America in Miami, when Colombian star Shakira performed at half-time at the Hard Rock Stadium

PARIS: The 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey will make history by having a Super Bowl-style half-time show, world football chief Gianni Infantino said Wednesday.

Coldplay band members Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will determine the artists who will perform, FIFA president Infantino said.

“I can confirm the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York/New Jersey,” Infantino 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.”

Infantino revealed the decision following a meeting of FIFA’s commercial and media partners in Dallas ahead of the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico.

No further information about specific details or duration of the half-time show were revealed by Infantino.

The move mirrors the show held during the final of last year’s Copa America in Miami, when Colombian star Shakira performed at half-time at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Infantino added that FIFA also planned to “take over” New York’s Times Square on the final weekend of the tournament.


Lola Yamaha ABT look for pace and points under the lights in Jeddah

Updated 12 February 2026
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Lola Yamaha ABT look for pace and points under the lights in Jeddah

  • After missing points in Miami, team hope for better showing
  • Working hard, say drivers Zane Maloney and Lucas di Grassi

JEDDAH: Lola Yamaha ABT are returning to race under the lights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where they are hoping to add to their points tally for season 12 of the Formula E World Championship this Friday and Saturday.

Situated alongside the Red Sea, the 19-turn, 3-km track features a long start and finish straight, technical chicanes and sweeping turns. The Saudi Arabian doubleheader will once again be at night.

And also host the first pit-boost race of season 12 where very driver must complete a 30-second, 600-kilowatt boost in the pitlane, giving an extra 10 percent of energy.

Last time in Miami, the team showed good pace throughout the weekend where they narrowly missed out on points, with Zane Maloney finishing 11th and Lucas di Grassi 13th, but they are hopeful for Jeddah.

“After a generally positive race in Miami, where we were much more competitive, I’m looking forward to taking to the track again in Jeddah,” di Grassi said.

“Racing at night always presents different challenges, with changes in temperature and lighting.

“With not much time between these races, we’ve been putting in the hours in the sim (simulator) to ensure we are as prepared as possible to maximize on the improvements seen last time out.”

Maloney said: “Although we narrowly missed out on points in Miami, it was a positive weekend for the team with good pace that shows we are moving in the right direction.

“Jeddah is a fast, technical circuit, which will test the team in different ways, particularly with the addition of the first pit boost of the season. However, we’ve been working hard in the short race gap and I’m confident we can be in the mix to score points this weekend.”

“We saw positive steps forward with organization and processes behind the scenes in Miami and this showed with good race pace which we are hoping to translate to points here in Jeddah,” said Mark Preston, team principal of Lola Yamaha ABT.