Gianni Infantino hints at a potential Drake performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and even jokes about the rapper’s ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar.
Drake, the Toronto-born global superstar, might be on track to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—and FIFA President Gianni Infantino is not opposed to the idea. During a March 6 interview on FOX 5’s Good Day New York, co-host Rosanna Scotto floated the suggestion of Drake as a halftime act for the upcoming tournament. The timing of the idea came hot on the heels of the Super Bowl, where Kendrick Lamar—Drake’s high-profile rival—performed and took lyrical shots at him.
“So we can create a bit of a rivalry,” Infantino quipped, referring to the Kendrick-Drake feud. “That’s a good idea. Actually, Drake was with us when we announced the host cities. I should have his number saved somewhere”
Drake’s connection to the World Cup isn’t just a speculative headline. In 2024, he appeared alongside Infantino to celebrate the announcement of 2026 host cities, including his hometown of Toronto.
“Canada as a whole, we have an incredible melting pot. But in Toronto, there are just so many different cultural experiences,” Drake told Infantino at the time. “So when the world comes, it’s going to be beautiful”
The 2026 World Cup—set to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—will kick off in Toronto on June 12, 2026. Vancouver will also host matches in Canada, while 11 U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York will be key venues. Infantino emphasized the global scale of the halftime show, which will be produced by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
“We’re thinking big,” Infantino said. “We’ll have 2 billion viewers from every corner of the world. It’s like 20 times the Super Bowl. So, we are very excited about that. You have to watch it – that’s the surprise. … It will be global, different languages, different countries”
While no official performance announcement has been made, the idea of Drake—who commands both cultural influence and international star power—leading the World Cup halftime show is gaining momentum, at least in the court of public opinion.
