As frontman of the British rock band Coldplay, Chris Martin hopes to bring a little Super Bowl magic to another kind of football — soccer’s biggest stage, the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
For the first time ever, soccer’s premier event will feature a “Super Bowl-style” halftime show during the finals on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For one-day-only, the venue will be renamed the “New York New Jersey Stadium” — and Martin, along with Coldplay’s manager, Phil Harvey, have been chosen to produce the event and handpick the musical lineup.
Martin to spearhead a FIFA ‘takeover’ in NYC’s Times Square
Set to dazzle soccer fans worldwide, the 2026 World Cup features an expanded lineup of 48 teams competing in a 104-game tournament unfolding across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The last World Cup final held in an American city took place in 1994 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Describing the occasion as “a historic moment,” on Wednesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino took to Instagram to confirm Martin and Harvey would not only curate the musical artists — but also help plan a FIFA “takeover” in New York City’s Times Square during the tournament’s final weekend.
Coldplay has been on the road since March 2002 as part of their “Music of the Spheres” world tour, that’s scheduled to run into 2025.
Martin, who turned 48 on Sunday, March 2, received a warm birthday message on Instagram from Gwyneth Paltrow, his ex-wife of more than ten years before announcing they were “consciously uncoupling” in 2014.
How the NFL Halftime Show Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesLike soccer, during the NFL’s regular season, halftime lasts around around 15 minutes, but for the Super Bowl that time is doubled in order accommodate the big show — one of the most coveted gigs in music.
Originally a modest affair, featuring marching bands and drill teams — in the 1990s, the NFL began to feature mainstream musicians and high-profile performances during halftime, resulting in a significant ratings boost and making the show a pivotal event in American pop culture.
Could Coldplay Announce Surprise Performance at World Cup?
This year Super Bowl LIX was headlined by rap artist Kendrick Lamar. But Coldplay is no stranger to the halftime stage, performing in 2016 at the 50th Super Bowl halftime show along with Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
While a prospective list of musical acts has yet to be released, it’s not unfathomable to think Coldplay could be among them.
During Thursday’s “Pop Start” segment on NBC’s “Today” show, co-host, Carson Daly noted the band was not set to perform. However, when asked by host Savannah Guthrie if they could just “hire themselves,” Daly responded, “I’m sure they could.”
Individual tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will go on sale at the end of 2025. For more ticket information, visit FIFA.
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Coldplay’s Chris Martin Brings Halftime Magic to Soccer’s Biggest Stage