This summer, Global Citizen is taking on its biggest event ever, organising the FIFA World Cup halftime show with the help of Chris Martin.
Details are being kept under wraps about plans for the final, which is set to take place on July 19 at New York’s MetLife Stadium.
We do know the performance is being curated by Coldplay’s frontman, hoping to rival the NFL’s famed Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Global Citizen’s Anthony Alfano gave Metro some teasing details about working with Chris to create the spectacle with the environment in mind.
The director of artist engagement, who will speak at SXSW London in June, told us he ‘can’t give away too much’.
‘We’re looking at every aspect,’ Anthony shared. ‘Chris and Coldplay have been pioneers in reducing the environmental and carbon footprints on their tour.
‘We’re really taking a lead from them in terms of how it’s being incorporated into the World Cup.’
FIFA and Global Citizen announced in 2024 that they would be working together in a four-year partnership to improve access to sport and quality education for children worldwide.
The platform is best known for its annual festivals but works to raise money and awareness for a variety of causes, from eradicating extreme poverty to saving the rainforest.
Coldplay’s involvement feels natural as the environment is one of the core pillars of the band’s and Global Citizen’s advocacy.
The first two years of Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour claimed it saw a 59% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, compared to the band’s previous world tour.
Their eco-target was part of a 12-step plan, which included planting seven million saplings, reducing air travel, and a dancefloor that generates electricity through fans jumping.
‘A lot of those elements will be part of [the FIFA show],’ Anthony shared. ‘In terms of how we’re looking at reducing carbon footprints and offsetting as much as possible where possible, in the lead-up but also on the day.’
They’re hoping to bring forward that messaging and the impact Coldplay’s changes made for this ‘colossal-sized event’.
Anthony ‘wishes’ he could share more information about the highly anticipated show, but teased details might be coming ‘soon’.
There have been rumours about who could perform, with Bruce Springsteen proving a popular choice, as well as other former Chris Martin collaborators.
That includes American stars like Beyoncé and Selena Gomez, as well as Coldplay’s fellow Glastonbury 2024 headliner Dua Lipa.
Global Citizen has previously worked with artists like Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and more in its efforts to tackle extreme poverty and the environmental crisis.
However, while they hope more artists look to get involved, careful consideration is put into each collaboration.
‘We take values really seriously,’ Anthony shared. ‘Not just because it’s a reputational risk, but really looking at like the heart of an artist and why we would want to work with them.
‘Of course, we want to work with as many artists as possible, and the biggest artists in the world to make sure that we’re reaching as many people as possible. For us, it’s really making sure that they align with our values too.’
With the recent Wireless Kanye West debacle looming over the festival circuit, organisers are more aware than ever of how one decision can bring your platform tumbling down.
Anthony said that if they were asked to work with someone who had ‘potentially done something in the past’, they would need to feel ‘the sincerity’ that they were making amends.
Controversy does allow for conversations, though, and proves how celebrities can be impactful when they’re using their voice for a good cause.
He called artists an ‘incredible opportunity for an entry point’, introducing fans to issues they may not have cared or even thought about in the past.
‘There’s always going to be things where people focus too much on one artist or one cultural figure,’ he continued. ‘But I think if even that little bit of focus comes from a major artist or a cultural figure helps that cause.’
Anthony is set to discuss how artists, audiences, and activists can work together to ‘inspire urgent action for Earth’ at SXSW London on June 4.
What is SXSW London?
SXSW will return to London for the second year, jam-packed with plenty of talks, gigs and more.
The cultural festival will take place across Shoreditch venues from June 1 – 6, with the full schedule available now on the SXSW website.
There are over 800 speakers who have been announced, from Marvel’s Joe and Anthony Russo to Metro’s own Editor-in-Chief, Deborah Arthurs.
Alongside the talks, there will be artists such as Rachel Chinouriri and Shame performing and screenings of brand new films.
Passes are available here.
He’ll speak at Artists x Earth: Protect the Planet with Music alongside record label bosses, authors, and charity founders.
‘The biggest thing I hope people leave with is that you don’t have to be the biggest artist on the planet to have an impact and make a change,’ he said.
‘Change starts with a single person every day, and that can be as simple as you making different decisions in your life. It sounds sort of mundane and elementary, but those things do add up.’
Anthony added that music and social movements have always gone hand in hand, this is just on a larger scale than ever before.
‘When you hear a tune or a beat, it really guides your soul and your heart into something [bigger].’
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