FIFA will incorporate celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report by The Athletic.

The report revealed that special “America 250” tributes are planned ahead of the Round of 16 matches scheduled for July 4 in Houston and Philadelphia.

The commemorations are expected to align with ongoing initiatives championed by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of the country’s Semiquincentennial anniversary celebrations.

Trump’s administration has established the White House Task Force 250, which has encouraged sports organisations to align major events with the anniversary.

According to The Athletic, proposals linked to the World Cup include the placement of large “Freedom” trailer trucks decorated with American flags at official FIFA Fan Festivals across host cities.

In an earlier interview with the publication, Andrew Giuliani, director of the FIFA World Cup 2026 White House Task Force, described the tournament as “an incredible opportunity to show off America’s first 250 years.”

The report also highlighted the growing relationship between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump. Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration events and later joined meetings of the president’s “Board of Peace” initiative.

FIFA is expected to use the July 4 matches as a platform to blend football with celebrations of American history and patriotism during the expanded 48-team tournament.

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Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy is set to take centre stage on football’s biggest global platform after featuring on the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Colombian pop icon Shakira.

Shakira on Thursday unveiled snippets of the new World Cup anthem titled Dai Dai, with the full track scheduled for release on May 14 ahead of the expanded tournament to be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Shakira performs during an open concert at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

The teaser video, posted on Instagram from the iconic Maracanã Stadium, showed Shakira and Burna Boy performing alongside dancers dressed in the colours of participating nations, signalling another fusion of football and global music culture.

For Nigerian fans, Burna Boy’s involvement marks yet another major international milestone for Afrobeats and underlines Nigeria’s growing cultural influence on the world stage. The Grammy-winning artiste becomes one of the few Nigerians to feature prominently in FIFA World Cup musical projects.

The video also paid tribute to past World Cups by displaying official match balls from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments — editions closely associated with Shakira’s memorable performances.

Shakira’s 2010 World Cup anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), remains one of the most celebrated football songs in history, especially across Africa, where it became synonymous with the continent’s first-ever hosting of the tournament in South Africa.

The Colombian singer also performed Hips Don’t Lie during ceremonies at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and La La La (Brazil 2014) at the 2014 finals in Brazil.

With Burna Boy now joining the World Cup musical tradition, Nigerian football and entertainment followers will hope the collaboration delivers another global hit capable of matching the enduring popularity of Waka Waka.

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New Jersey lowered its round-trip fare to World Cup games at MetLife ​Stadium to $105 from $150 on Thursday, local media ‌reported, after the original price drew criticism from FIFA.

The reduced fare still dwarfs the less ​than $15 the same route costs on ​a typical day and exceeds the $80 round-trip ⁠fare for FIFA’s own shuttle service ​to the 82,500-seat stadium, which will host ​eight World Cup matches, including the final on July 19.

The CEO of New Jersey’s public transportation provider ​, NJ Transit, Kris Kolluri, had last ​month cited the need for increased security and a ‌higher ⁠number of passengers due to the closure of public parking around the stadium to justify the fare hike.

Reuters has contacted NJ Transit ​for comment ​on the ⁠price change.

The 2026 World Cup’s Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi, ​said the original $150 price would have “a ​chilling ⁠effect” on fans.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill previously said FIFA should pay for the ⁠rides, ​as NJ Transit had ​been “stuck with a $48 million bill” to ensure fan safety.

-Reuters

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