Is This Really the World Cup Final?…Fans Furious Over U.S. Anthem and Halftime Show

U.S. Anthem Performance and First Halftime Show Planned Simultaneously
Criticism Grows on Social Media over "U.S.-Centered Production"

Controversy is mounting ahead of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup final, as it has been revealed that the U.S. national anthem will be played despite the United States not being a finalist, and that a large-scale halftime show will be held for the first time in World Cup history.

On the 16th (KST), Argentina players are cheering after a comeback victory against England in the North and Central America World Cup semifinals. Photo by Yonhap News

According to UK media outlet HITC and U.S. sports network ESPN on July 17, U.S. singer Jennifer Hudson is scheduled to perform the national anthem at the opening ceremony of the final between Argentina and Spain, which is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States, on July 20.

The United States co-hosted this year's tournament with Mexico and Canada, but was eliminated after losing to Belgium in the round of 16. Traditionally, only the national anthems of the two finalist nations are played at the World Cup final, making it highly unusual for the host nation's anthem to be featured separately. In particular, there were no announcements about playing the national anthems of the other co-hosts, Canada and Mexico, leading to concerns over fairness and equity.

Once the news spread, social networking sites were filled with criticism such as, "Why is the U.S. anthem being played when the country isn't even in the final?", "The World Cup is turning into a U.S.-centric event," and "This presentation goes against football tradition."

For this final, FIFA will also stage the first-ever large-scale halftime show in World Cup history. To accommodate the show, halftime is expected to be extended from the usual 15 minutes to about 25 or 26 minutes. World-renowned pop stars will appear, and actor Tom Cruise is also scheduled to make a special appearance during the closing ceremony.

Within the football community, concerns have been raised that the extended break could affect players' performance and condition. If players’ bodies cool down for too long, the risk of injury increases and unexpected developments could occur in the flow of the second half.

In 2018, Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, met with U.S. President Donald Trump (right) at the White House. Photo by Yonhap News

Adding to the controversy is the planned attendance of U.S. President Donald Trump at the final. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt announced that President Trump would attend the match in person, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also mentioned the possibility that President Trump could participate in the trophy presentation for the winning team.

President Trump has also been embroiled in controversy during the tournament over allegations of political intervention related to the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. After President Trump requested FIFA President Infantino to review the disciplinary action, FIFA rescinded Balogun’s suspension, leading to criticism that political influence may have been exerted.

HITC reported, "With the unprecedented setup for this World Cup final, global fans are expressing growing backlash." The UK daily The Guardian also highlighted the close relationship between President Trump and President Infantino, voicing concerns that the World Cup is increasingly subject to political and commercial influence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.