World Cup final is the greatest show on earth – it doesn’t need half-time show or Janet Jackson Nipple-gate to prove it

FIFA have never been one to shy away from spectacle but their latest decision to introduce an American-style, star-studded half-time show for the 2026 World Cup final has sparked controversy.

For football’s purists, this is a step too far — an unnecessary intrusion into the most sacred match in the sport.

The 2026 World Cup final will feature a Super Bowl-style half-time show

Janet Jackson was involved in a wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show

Coldplay have been asked to choose the artists for next year’s final

For others, it’s a modern evolution, bringing football in line with the commercial juggernaut that is the Super Bowl.

Readers of a certain vintage will recall the FA Cup final was always adorned by a half-time musical break, but it was more the band of the Coldstream Guards than Coldplay.

Next year, at the final in New Jersey, the boys from Coldplay have been asked by Fifa president Gianni Infantino to cobble together some ‘artistes’ to entertain the fans during the half-time break, just like they do at the Super Bowl.

Let’s hope there isn’t another Janet Jackson boob, or ‘wardrobe malfunction’ as it was called back in 2004, when Justin Timberlake ripped off Ms Jackson’s bodice, revealing rather more than the quarterback’s master-plan.

On the basis Fifa won’t want a rerun of that infamous Nipple-gate, you can be damned sure Dolly Parton won’t be getting the gig.

But the World Cup final has always been about the football, not the half-time show.

It is the pinnacle of the sport, watched by billions worldwide, where history is written and legends are made.

The idea that Fifa now wants to shoehorn a Hollywood-style entertainment break into what should be an intense, uninterrupted battle for glory feels unnecessary, if not entirely out of place.

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The Super Bowl’s famous half-time show regularly attracts more TV viewers than the game itself and previous performers have included pop royalty like Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga.

Other than Janet Jackson, they’ve all managed to keep their clothes on.

Traditionally, half-time in football is a 15-minute tactical reset.

Players regroup, managers deliver crucial team talks and fans either hold their breath or take a moment to recover from the first-half drama.  Or at least get a quick beer in.

How will players feel about potentially waiting longer to restart the biggest game of their careers? Will the spectacle detract from the sporting drama?

Do fans, emotionally invested in the match, want a pop concert when they are dissecting their team’s performance?

After an eight-minute VAR delay at the Bournemouth vs Wolves FA Cup match last weekend, add a lengthy half-time show at the Vitality Stadium and supporters would have been in danger of missing the last bus home. And who is going to pay for it?

A glance at ticket prices for the World Cup final show the cheap seats already start at £3,000 each, so it’s pretty clear who will be forking out for the fun — the supporters.

Next year’s World Cup is hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico and Fifa’s decision to introduce a showbiz-style interval seems to be a clear nod to American sports culture.

The Super Bowl half-time show is a global event in itself, with A-list performers, jaw-dropping production and millions tuning in just for the spectacle.

But football isn’t American football.

Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl performance has gone viral for weeks

Tennis icon Serena Williams danced at the Super Bowl last month

And while Fifa are clearly eyeing new commercial opportunities, the World Cup isn’t in need of a marketing boost.

This move is part of a wider trend — football, increasingly, is being shaped by commercial interests.

Expanded tournaments, mid-season World Cups, club competitions that stretch calendars to breaking point — decisions are being driven by revenue rather than the rhythm of the game.

Fifa will argue this move will “enhance the fan experience” but it feels like an attempt to sell an already premium product to an even bigger audience.

Football doesn’t need a headline act at half-time. The real stars are on the pitch, not on a stage.

If Fifa get their way, will we see DJs at full-time? Fireworks before penalties? Commercial breaks for VAR decisions?

The fear is that once this door is opened, football’s traditions will continue to erode in the name of spectacle.

This all feels a far cry from the days when you huddled around your cup of Bovril while reading the club programme at half-time.

And over the tinny PA would be the crackly sounds of Shakin’ Stevens or Sade.

The World Cup final is already the Greatest Show on Earth. It doesn’t need a half-time act to prove it.

Gianni Infantino has informed sponsors of the major change