Sports
Infantino: 2026 World Cup Final To Feature Halftime Musical Show
Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, has announced that the final of the 2026 World Cup will feature a first-ever halftime show.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 next year.
The final of the competition is scheduled to be held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in the US on July 19.
In a post on his Instagram page, Infantino said FIFA would “take over” Times Square in New York for the final weekend of the competition.
The FIFA president added that Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay are being consulted on “the list of artists who will perform during the half time show, as well as at Times Square”.
The halftime musical show is a feature associated with the Super Bowl championship final in the US. Kendrick Lamar, the American rapper, was the artiste who headlined the 2025 Super Bowl with a performance that stretched almost 30 minutes.
The FIFA World Cup final, like every other football match, traditionally has a 15-minute break between each half of 45 minutes.
The 2026 tournament will be the biggest World Cup, with 48 teams. It is also the first time three counties will be co-hosting the competition.
Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, says the team still needs to improve in spite of the 2-0 victory over the Amavubi of Rwanda on Friday in Kigali.
The encounter was a matchday 5 fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Malian said at the post match conference that he is happy with the performance of his players against a tough Rwandan side.
He expressed delight at the win but stressed the need for the team to improve ahead of there next game on Tuesday in Uyo against bottom placed Zimbabwe.
“I just want to say it was a difficult game because Rwanda is a good side, I know the coach, he is a good coach, we made a great game too.
“I am so happy and proud of my players, my guys and the Nigerian people” Chelle said.
He said the team worked a lot in the last one week sourcing information for his players with lots of video sessions after two training practices.
“I think the victory or the win is normal because in the first half they had only one chance to score.
“We keep the ball in the 2nd half. We played two to three systems .
“I am happy now because this is just one game. We have some weaknesses and some strengths, my job is to think about the game project” Chelle said.(NAN)
By Israel Bulus
The Kaduna State Government has assured that it will revive scholarships for young sports enthusiasts as part of efforts to promote talent development and youth engagement.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Professor Benjamin Gugwong, gave this assurance on behalf of the government on Sunday during the kickoff of a unity football competition organized by Kamrum Integrated Farms in Zango Kataf Local Government Area.
Gugwong emphasized the government’s commitment to nurturing sports talents, stating that reviving the scholarship scheme will provide young athletes with opportunities to further their education while excelling in their chosen sports.
He commended Kamrum Integrated Farms for organizing the competition, describing it as a vital initiative that fosters unity and peace among youths in the state.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Kamrum Integrated Farms, Mr. Rijo Shekari, explained that the competition was conceived to promote peace and youth development within the area.
” Sports has a unique way of bringing people together, and through this tournament, he hopes to encourage youth participation in productive activities while identifying and nurturing football talents.
In their show of support, the Chairman of the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Mr. Jerry Adams, announced a donation of ₦500,000, and the Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area, Mr. Sankye Obadiah also gave ₦200,000 towards the competition, promising continued support for initiatives that promote youth empowerment and community engagement.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Chairman of Zango Kataf Local Government, the Vice Chairman, Mr. Godwin Ishaya Dandaura, commended Mr. Shekari for organizing the tournament.
He urged all participating teams to play with the spirit of sportsmanship, stressing that the competition should not be seen as a do-or-die affair but as a platform to build friendships and unity.
Also speaking, the Chairman, organising committee of the tournament, Mr. Gunners James, said the winner of the competition will receive one million naira cash price aside from the trophy, while the first runner up will get five hundred thousand naira.
ELANZA NEWS reports that a total of twenty-three football teams have registered to participate in the competition.
Newcastle United on Sunday defeated Liverpool 2-1, securing their first major trophy since 1955.
The Magpies in a historic Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium defeated the Reds to clinch the first silverware of the 2024/25 football season, ELANZANEWS reports.
The EFL match began with both teams displaying cautious play.
Newcastle broke the deadlock just before halftime when defender Dan Burn headed in a goal from a corner in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Newcastle continued their dominance.
Alexander Isak doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Liverpool.
Liverpool struggled to respond effectively, with manager Arne Slot making several substitutions, including introducing Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez, but they failed to penetrate Newcastle’s resolute defense.
However, Federico Chiesa pulled one back in th injury time (90+4) with all hopes high but to no avail to the Premier League table toppers.
The final whistle confirmed Newcastle’s 2-1 victory, ending their 70-year wait for a major trophy, The Guardian reports.
The win is also Eddie How’s first cup win as a manager.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his team’s performance, saying, “This is a dream come true for the club and the fans. The players showed incredible heart and determination to achieve this historic win.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, visibly disappointed, admitted, “We weren’t good enough in the critical moments. Newcastle deserved the win; they were the better team on the day.”
Burn, van Dijk comments
Dan Burn, who opened the scoring for Newcastle, expressed his emotions post-match, saying, “To score in a final and help the club end this long wait is beyond words.
“This is for the fans who have stood by us all these years.”
On the other hand, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, despite the disappointment, demonstrated great sportsmanship, congratulating Newcastle players and acknowledging their impressive performance.
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, known for his emotional commentary, was visibly moved during the match, stating, “I’m almost crying seeing what this means to Newcastle fans. This is what football is all about—moments like these.”
Former Newcastle striker and club legend Alan Shearer joined in the celebrations at Wembley, expressing his joy.
“This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s been a long journey, but this victory shows the strength and passion of this club,” he said during a post-match interview.
Fans around the world echoed similar sentiments, flooding social media with tributes to the players and the manager, celebrating the end of a 70-year wait for silverware.