The halftime entertainment has been a big part of the NFL Super Bowl for many years. Chris Martin the lead singer for the British rock band Coldplay is looking to bring the same entertainment model to the World Cup beginning next year.
Next year the final game of the World Cup tournament will be held at Met Life Stadium (the home of the NFL New York Jets and New York Giants) on July 19.
FIFA is planning a “takeover” of Times Square in New York City on the same weekend. The event will be hosted by the three North American teams Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said, “I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey, in association with (advocacy organization) Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”
While Infantino did not confirm a performance by the rockers; he did note that Martin and Coldplay manager Phil Harvey will be involved in booking artists saying, “I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalize the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square.”
A normal halftime is 15 minutes in length; Infantino made no mention of whether that time limit will be altered for the entertainment.