Gary Lineker has reacted to FIFA’s controversial proposal to introduce a half-time show at the 2026 World Cup final. The tournament will take place across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with the final being hosted at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed Chris Martin of Coldplay fame is collaborating with the organisation on selecting performers for the World Cup final and planning a two-day spectacular in Times Square, New York City. Meanwhile, Lineker is set to depart from his role as Match of the Day host after this season, with Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates set to take over.
However, Lineker will still present BBC’s FA Cup coverage through to the 2025/26 final and cover the upcoming World Cup. The New Jersey final is expected to be Lineker’s last game with the BBC, though he could sign a contract extension, and he’s not keen on the idea of a Super Bowl-esque entertainment segment taking centre stage during half-time.
“I don’t like this, I have to say, before we start,” Lineker told the Rest is Football podcast. “I hope it’s not going completely down the road of NFL half-time shows because that’s 25 minutes, half-an-hour, and I’m not sure we could quite cope with that.
“I’m bowing out soon anyway, but I’ve got one World Cup left in me. It’d be interesting to see, if they did have some big, massive half-time show, how TV deals with that because the analysis has always been part of television coverage. Does TV suddenly go, ‘no, we’re going to show the half-time show’?”
Lineker then offered a possible solution to the broadcaster. “For someone like BBC, I would say, ‘stick the show on the red button’, or they might (decide to) stick the analysis on the red button,” he said.
(Image: Harold Cunningham – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The BBC has previously made similar decisions during the Olympics, where the closing ceremony was made available via the red button. The former England striker’s comments reflect the sentiments of numerous football fans who are unsure about adopting the NFL’s Super Bowl-style half-time spectacles.
While FIFA president Infantino hasn’t confirmed if the World Cup final half-time break will be extended to accommodate the show, which requires stage setups and takedowns, FIFA does have ambitions for a New York City takeover around the bronze medal game and the final itself.
“These will be two incredible matches, featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City,” Infantino explained. “I also want to thank Chris Martin and (band manager) Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalise the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square.”
Yet, Lineker remains sceptical about football needing a Super Bowl-esque half-time show, highlighting a key difference in how the two events are presented. “With the NFL, they do all their analysis during the game, so it’s not really an issue for them at half-time,” Lineker said. “It’s a different thing. It’s not something I’m overcome with excitement about, I have to say.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
