FIFA World Cup 2026 talking points: NFL-style half-time show, kits and more

Expect fireworks to light up the New York skyline when a pop party kicks off during the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.

K-pop supergroup BTS, Madonna, and Colombian star Shakira will co-headline the programme, while British rock band Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin will curate the half-time show, which is reported to be 11 minutes long.

It is not the first time that American football’s influence has seeped into what people in the US call “soccer” – a half-time final show was also held at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG at the same venue, featuring performances from rapper Doja Cat, singer J Balvin and others.

J Balvin, who performed at the 2025 Club World Cup, returns for the 2026 World Cup final’s half-time show [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

The beautiful kits

The hype around the World Cup this year first started when the teams’ kits dropped in late March.

Jerseys by sportswear giant Adidas emerged as the people’s favourite, thanks to some beautiful designs: from the concentric ribbed pattern spreading across Japan’s bright blue home kit to the lemon yellow away shirt of Curacao, inspired by the colourful buildings found in the island’s capital, Willemstad.

Also watch out for Argentina’s black and blue away kit, featuring Fileteado folk art style, France’s dark blue home kit which has a pristine white collar, and South Africa’s lush gold and forest green away kit, adorned with vertical stripes made up of triangular hand-drawn tile patterns.

New pre-game ceremony

Exactly a week before the opening match, FIFA announced a new pre-game ceremony.

Before every World Cup game kicks off, all players in the matchday squad – not just the starting 11 – will line up around the centre circle before the national anthems are played.

The ceremony, which FIFA said “transforms the stadium into a shared stage”, will include extra-large country flag banners and will see players enter the pitch through a dedicated arch closest to the tunnel.

“No matter where supporters are seated, each will have a distinct and engaging perspective, with extra-large country flag banners and on-pitch elements carefully positioned to involve the crowd in an authentic and meaningful way,” FIFA explained.

Below is an example of how the pre-game ceremony will look at the opening match of the tournament, Mexico vs South Africa, on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium.