Poll shows American fans back FIFA's World Cup 2026 halftime show plan - but not with Drake as the performer

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature the tournament's first-ever halftime show. A recent survey from Casino.org revealed that 82 percent of fans support this innovative addition, with 80 percent believing it will enhance the overall World Cup experience.

This comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will have the first half-time show in the tournament's history.

Sky News reported that FIFA has already begun preparations for the halftime show, including the involvement of Coldplay in curating the lineup for the performance.

Infantino expressed his enthusiasm for the new initiative, in an interview with FIFA.com, stating, "This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world. We are excited to partner with Global Citizen to deliver an unforgettable experience for fans in the stadium and watching around the world."

Here are the results of the poll:

• 82 percent support FIFA introducing its first halftime show, since it’d add to the overall experience according to 80 percent polled

• 59 percent of Americans don’t think Drake is the right artist to perform the halftime show, as 62 percent cite his ongoing controversies as the main reason

• 56 percent believe Drake would throw shade at Kendrick Lamar if he performed

In addition to those results, here were America's top artist choices (based on the poll): Shakira (No. 1), Taylor Swift (No. 2), Lady Gaga (No. 3)

Shakira has the highest probability of performing the halftime show at 33.3 percent - according to Casino.org. The poll probably factors in the fact she’s done past World Cup anthems: Waka Waka (South Africa) and La La La (Brazil)

The decision to introduce a halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final represents a significant shift in FIFA's approach to the tournament. This move aligns the World Cup more closely with other major sporting events like the Super Bowl, known for their halftime entertainment.

The overwhelming support from American fans suggests a strong appetite for this type of innovation in soccer's premier competition.

With the 2026 World Cup final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA and Global Citizen will begin the process of planning and organizing the halftime show.