The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to make history with an innovative broadcasting initiative. According to The Touchline, FIFA has granted approval for a groundbreaking format that will allow viewers to see flash interviews with players during halftime for the first time in World Cup history.
This unprecedented approach has previously been adopted mainly in American sports leagues and select club tournaments, but the 2026 World Cup aims to elevate media access to a new level. The implementation of halftime interviews will be at the discretion of the broadcasters.
Television networks that hold official rights to World Cup matches will have the opportunity to submit special requests to FIFA for these interviews. If approved, players chosen by the broadcasters will be required to stop for interviews on their way to the locker room, providing real-time insights as the game progresses.