FIFA will introduce a halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final for the first time in the tournament’s history, with Nigerian artists potentially taking centre stage amid the global rise of Afrobeats.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the development, revealing that the show will feature multiple performers.

The lineup is being curated by Chris Martin and the band’s manager, Phil Harvey.

The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.

Organised in partnership with Global Citizen, the halftime show is expected to be a landmark moment.

Infantino described it as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”

In addition to the halftime performance, FIFA is planning a major “takeover” of Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

(The Nation)

Marie-Louise Eta /Credit: Getty Images

Marie-Louise Eta has made history after being appointed interim head coach of Union Berlin, becoming the first woman to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five football leagues.

Her appointment runs until the end of the season following the dismissal of head coach Steffen Baumgart after Union Berlin’s 3-1 defeat to bottom-placed FC Heidenheim.

Union Berlin currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining.

However, the club has struggled for form, winning only twice in their last 14 league matches in 2026.

Club director of men’s football Horst Heldt said in a statement on the club’s website that the decision was driven by recent performances and the need for a fresh approach in the final stages of the season.

“We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season. The performances shown in recent weeks do not give us confidence that we can turn things around with the current set-up,” Heldt said.

Eta is no stranger to breaking barriers at the club. She became Union Berlin’s first female assistant coach in November 2023 and later made history again in January 2024 when she led the team from the touchline during a Bundesliga match while then-manager Nenad Bjelica was suspended.

Seven players from the Eritrea national football team have failed to return home after their side secured a historic victory over Eswatini national football team.

A source close to the squad told the BBC on Monday that while part of the team travelled back via South Africa after the match, the seven players are believed to have absconded.

The development comes shortly after Eritrea’s 2–1 win in Eswatini, which secured a 4–1 aggregate victory and a return to the qualifying group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years.

Sources said only 10 members of the 24-man squad were based in Eritrea, and just three of those players—including team captain Ablelom Teklezghi—have returned to the country.

Although the whereabouts of the missing players remain unclear, reports indicate that some may have been seen in South Africa. Among those who failed to return are goalkeeper Kubrom Solomon and veteran winger Medhanie Redie.