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Rb Hip Hop

Here’s Why FIFA President Thinks Drake Performing at 2026 World Cup Is a ‘Good Idea’

Gianni Infantino even commented on Drizzy's feud with Kendrick Lamar.

Drake performs at History on November 7, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.

Drake performs at History on November 7, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario.

Robert Okine/Getty Images

Drake, a Toronto native, represented for Canada when the 2026 World Cup host cities were announced last year, and he could be making an appearance at the 2026 games as a performer.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino pulled up to FOX 5’s Good Day New York on Thursday (March 6), and co-host Rosanna Scotto pressed Infantino about the possibility of Drake performing at the World Cup next year.


“I have a great idea for you for the halftime — Drake,” she said. “Because you were at the Super Bowl — Kendrick Lamar dissed him at the Super Bowl.”

“So we can create a bit of a rivalry,” Infantino quipped about Drake’s feud with Lamar. “That’s a good idea. Actually, Drake was with us when we announced the host cities. I should have his number saved somewhere.”

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Infantino called the World Cup halftime show — which is produced by Coldplay’s Chris Martin — the “best halftime show ever.”

“We’re thinking big,” he told FOX 5. “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.”

Toronto will be playing host to the first tournament game of the World Cup on June 12, 2026. Vancouver, B.C, will also host a match north of the border.

“Canada as a whole, we have an incredible melting pot. But in Toronto, there are just so many different cultural experiences,” Drake told Infantino in February 2024. “So when the world comes, it’s going to be beautiful.”

Eleven U.S. cities will also host, including Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco (Bay Area) and the greater New York City area.

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Watch FOX 5’s full interview with FIFA’s Gianni Infantino below.

This article first appeared on Billboard U.S.

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Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

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