England vs Norway has unexpected surprise half-time show announced
A British star is set to perform at England's quarter-final clash with Norway tomorrow night, in a bizarre move from FIFA.
The ongoing Americanisation of the World Cup has seen the introduction of the much-loathed hydration breaks, which fans complained had split the two halves into four quarters, and a half-time show planned for 19 July's final in New York that will see the likes of Madonna and Justin Bieber take to the stage.
And now it looks like Saturday's match between England and Norway will be getting a mini half-time show, as singer Ellie Goulding will be entertaining fans at the Miami Stadium.
The 'Love Me Like You Do' hitmaker confirmed the surprise news on her Instagram account, telling fans that 'truly anything could happen' tomorrow.
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Posting a series of photos jumping up and down on a bed, the 39-year-old wrote: "Performing at the @fifaworldcup quarter final for England vs Norway has me feeling like truly anything could happen," referencing her 2012 hit.
"I already know the boys will make England proud, it’s coming home."
Although Goulding herself didn't specify when her performance would be taking place, it's been heavily reported that she will be singing to crowds during the half-time break.
The quarter-final clash will kick off at 10pm UK time (5pm in Miami), meaning the performance could take place anywhere between 10:45pm and 11:15pm, depending on injury time.
However, it is currently unclear if tomorrow's match, which will be broadcast to Brits on ITV, will air the performance, as both the broadcaster and the BBC have agreed not to air the 19 July spectacle.
BBC and ITV confirm they will not air World Cup half-time performance
According to a report published in The Times back in May, both broadcasters had decided to continue with the typical half-time format, which involves having pundits analyse various aspects of the match.
However, the publication did note that 'no final decisions' had been made at the time of writing.
Curated by Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin, the musical segment is said to clock in at roughly 11 minutes and will include performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS and Shakira.
Should the broadcasters give the singers a cold shoulder, viewers will still be able to tune in if they wish, with the performance being available via the BBC and ITV's digital platforms instead.
World Cup 2026 fixture schedule and UK kick off times
Friday, 10 July
Quarter-final - Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, US
Saturday, 11 July
Quarter-final - Match 99: Norway vs England, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US
Sunday, 12 July
Quarter-final - Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 2am - Kansas City, US
Tuesday, 14 July
Semi-final - Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 8pm - Arlington, US
Wednesday, 15 July
Semi-final - Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 8pm - Atlanta, US
Saturday, 18 July
Third Place Playoff - Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US
Sunday, 19 July
Final - Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 8pm - New Jersey, US
Brenna Cooper