2026 World Cup final to feature halftime show for the first time
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The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the final match of the 2026 men's World Cup, taking place in the United States, will feature a halftime show for the first time in the tournament's history.
The tournament will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, with the final scheduled to occur at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
Historically, from its inception in 1930 to the present day, the World Cup has never included a halftime show. Infantino revealed this significant change during a World Cup event in Dallas.
MetLife Stadium serves as the home ground for the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants.
"I can confirm the inaugural halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York New Jersey, in collaboration with Global Citizen," Infantino stated in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
"This will mark a historic occasion for the FIFA World Cup and will feature a performance worthy of the world's premier sporting event."
In addition to the advocacy organization Global Citizen, Infantino mentioned that FIFA will collaborate with the British band Coldplay to assist in producing the halftime show.
Coldplay previously performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2016, featuring artists such as Bruno Mars and Beyoncé as special guests. While Infantino did not confirm Coldplay's performance in 2026, he indicated that the band members would help curate a lineup of artists.
The official regulations of soccer, as defined by the International Football Association Board, stipulate that halftime breaks should not exceed 15 minutes, and it remains uncertain whether this will be adjusted to accommodate the performance, similar to halftime shows at the Super Bowl
The Toronto Police Service wishes to inform the public about an arrest made in connection with an investigation into suspicious incidents involving children. This case involves high-risk sex offender Lucas Petrini, who has a prior conviction for the abduction and sexual assault of a 9-year-old boy in 2008.
Between February 13, 2025, and March 3, 2025, the Toronto Police responded to three reports of suspicious incidents.
On February 13, 2025, it is alleged that two children were walking in the vicinity of Annette Street and Pacific Avenue when they were approached by an unidentified male. The individual attempted to gain their attention by calling out and requesting that they accompany him to an undisclosed location. Fortunately, the children managed to escape by running in the opposite direction.
Additionally, on March 1, 2025, two children reported that an unknown male was following them as they walked. The male allegedly tapped one of the children on the shoulder and instructed them to follow him. In response, both children began to shout for help. One child successfully fled, while the male attempted to obstruct the second child's path; however, the child was able to reach a passerby for assistance.
Furthermore, on March 3, 2025, a child walking alone was approached by an unknown male who tapped them on the shoulder and tried to engage in conversation. The child reacted by pushing the male away and running home.
On March 4, 2025, officers conducted patrols in the area as part of the ongoing investigation and successfully located and arrested the male.
Lucas Petrini, 34, of Toronto, has been charged with ten counts of failing to comply with a long-term supervision order and two counts of assault.
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