The World Cup will have the longest match following FIFA's decision, which includes a halftime show for the 2026 final and transforms the format of the biggest event in world football.

The World Cup will have the longest match following FIFA’s decision, which includes a halftime show for the 2026 final and transforms the format of the biggest event in world football.

Written by Caio Aviz

Published on 17/04/2026 at 17:56

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The unprecedented decision by FIFA integrates football and entertainment and transforms the dynamics of the 2026 World Cup final

The final of the 2026 World Cup will undergo an unprecedented change that directly alters the dynamics of the event.
FIFA confirmed the holding of a show during the halftime of the match, which extends the total time of the game and introduces a new format of spectacle.
The game is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, United States.
The initiative was announced by Gianni Infantino, president of the organization, as part of a strategy to expand the global reach of the tournament.
The proposal integrates football and entertainment, creating a broader experience for the international audience.

Organization of the spectacle involves names linked to Coldplay

The production of the show will be under the responsibility of Global Citizen, an organization focused on major global impact events.
Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, members of Coldplay, are involved in the creative process of the presentation.
The proposal aims to develop a show with international standards, inspired by major entertainment productions.
The artists who will participate in the event have not yet been officially confirmed.
Expectations involve globally recognized names, aligned with the global profile of the World Cup.

Artistic participation reinforces the cultural dimension of the competition

The presence of professionals linked to music enhances the cultural character of the tournament final.
FIFA believes that the inclusion of musical performances strengthens the multicultural image of the competition.
The strategy also helps attract new audiences, in addition to maintaining the interest of traditional fans.
The integration between sports and entertainment reflects a change in the format of major sporting events.
This approach follows trends already observed in other international spectacles.

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Planning initiated in 2024 structures the change in format

The project began to be structured in 2024, according to information released by FIFA itself.
The initiative is part of a broader plan aimed at innovation in the format of the World Cup.
The choice of MetLife Stadium highlights the importance of infrastructure to host large-scale events.
The venue was considered strategic to offer a global experience to the audience.
The decision also reinforces the intention to transform the final into an event that goes beyond football.

Strategy broadens global reach and diversifies the audience

FIFA aims to keep the World Cup among the top sporting events on the planet.
The integration with entertainment broadens the competition’s reach and diversifies the audience profile.
The adopted model follows changes in content consumption on a global scale.
The proposal combines sports excitement with cultural elements to strengthen the event.
The strategy positions the Cup as a complete spectacle within the international scene.

New experience redefines the format of the World Cup final

The 2026 final will be held in a broader format, with an extended duration and inclusion of musical attractions.
The event will incorporate entertainment elements that go beyond traditional football.
The change establishes a new standard for the audience experience in major competitions.
The proposal reinforces FIFA’s intention to innovate and maintain the tournament’s relevance.
This new format may influence future editions of the World Cup.

The World Cup will have the longest match following FIFA’s decision, which includes a halftime show for the 2026 final and transforms the format of the biggest event in world football.

The unprecedented decision by FIFA integrates football and entertainment and transforms the dynamics of the 2026 World Cup final

Organization of the spectacle involves names linked to Coldplay

Artistic participation reinforces the cultural dimension of the competition

The noise law will no longer be in effect at 10 PM starting in June with a new rule valid during the 2026 World Cup.

Planning initiated in 2024 structures the change in format

Strategy broadens global reach and diversifies the audience

New experience redefines the format of the World Cup final

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The World Cup will have the longest match following FIFA’s decision, which includes a halftime show for the 2026 final and transforms the format of the biggest event in world football.

The unprecedented decision by FIFA integrates football and entertainment and transforms the dynamics of the 2026 World Cup final

Organization of the spectacle involves names linked to Coldplay

Artistic participation reinforces the cultural dimension of the competition

The noise law will no longer be in effect at 10 PM starting in June with a new rule valid during the 2026 World Cup.

Planning initiated in 2024 structures the change in format

Strategy broadens global reach and diversifies the audience

New experience redefines the format of the World Cup final

With billions in loans, China is rebuilding Nigeria’s railway network from scratch, abandoning the British colonial tracks that have turned to scrap and creating a corridor of over 1,300 km to take the load off the roads of Africa’s largest economy.

Forget petroleum-based asphalt: a Scottish company transforms 684,000 plastic bottles into one kilometer of road that is 60% more resistant and up to 10 times more durable, and the technology has already started replacing traditional asphalt in more than 30 countries.

Austrian engineers have developed an inflatable concrete technology that transforms flat slabs into domes using only air pressure, eliminating scaffolding and temporary forms, and potentially changing the way bridges, tunnels, and curved roofs are constructed worldwide.

China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

Australia prepares to dredge 96.5 million m³ in Moreton Bay to deepen, widen, and realign channels of the Port of Brisbane, in a project of up to 25 years designed to accommodate larger ships and enhance maritime safety and regional port efficiency.

A robot named Walter does the work of five bricklayers per hour and can save the construction industry, where the average age of professionals is 46 years and almost no one wants to learn the trade anymore, in the United Kingdom.

Spain installs two giant pipelines 2.2 km off the coast to draw water from the Mediterranean and supply a megafacility capable of producing 200 million liters of drinking water per day.

While most dealerships in Brazil take days to deliver cars, in Germany two 48-meter glass towers hold 800 vehicles and release each model via automatic elevators in a few seconds.

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While most dealerships in Brazil take days to deliver cars, in Germany two 48-meter glass towers hold 800 vehicles and release each model via automatic elevators in a few seconds.

Goodbye to workers assembling rebar on construction sites: intelligent robot carries and positions more than 2.2 tons of rebar per hour, ties 1,200 intersections per hour, and promises to cut up to 50% of the schedule in bridge construction projects.

End of bricklayers laying brick by brick: robot places more than 2,000 bricks per day, automatically applies cement, works with only one human operator next to the machine, and transforms traditional masonry into a high-speed semi-automated operation.