Claim: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to feature a halftime show, similar to the Super Bowl.

The claim that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to feature a halftime show is mostly true. FIFA has officially announced this event as a historic first for the tournament, with major performers like Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. Support for this claim comes from FIFA's own communications and reputable sources. However, some dispute this by pointing out that the tournament includes live performances beyond the halftime show, indicating entertainment elements have existed previously, albeit not in the same format as a halftime show. All three graders point in the same direction, with minor differences. Gemini comes in highest (95%), while Perplexity is lowest (88%). While the evidence strongly supports the claim that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature the first halftime show, the existence of other live performances during the tournament raises some questions. Opposing sources highlight that there are performances at various matches, which could suggest that entertainment has been part of the World Cup experience before. However, these performances do not constitute a halftime show as defined in the context of the claim, which focuses specifically on a structured halftime event during the final match.