Irish rock group U2 will take the stage during the halftime show of the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve matchup, Netflix and the league announced Tuesday.
The band is scheduled to play midway through the Nov. 25 contest between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with the entire broadcast streaming live globally on Netflix, according to reports from Billboard and Variety.
A return to the football stage
The appearance marks U2’s return to an NFL halftime production nearly a quarter-century after their landmark appearance at Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002. During that New Orleans performance, staged months following the Sept. 11 attacks, lead singer Bono revealed an American flag lining inside his jacket as the band played three songs: “Beautiful Day,” “MLK” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” ESPN reported.
“There’s a reason U2 has headlined stadiums for decades: they don’t just perform, they deliver iconic moments audiences remember forever,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in an official statement. “We’re thrilled that they’ll bring that same magic to the NFL stage on Netflix. It’s going to be an unforgettable night for football fans and Netflix members worldwide.”
Production for the stadium show will be handled by Jesse Collins Entertainment on behalf of Netflix and the league, Variety reported.
Netflix expands holiday sports broadcasts
The performance reflects an ongoing push by both the league and Netflix to elevate mid-game entertainment outside of the Super Bowl. Netflix previously streamed holiday games on Christmas Day in each of the past two seasons, featuring headliners such as Beyoncé in 2024 and Snoop Dogg in 2025, NBC Sports reported. The 2025 Christmas production in Minneapolis also incorporated appearances by Andrea Bocelli, Lainey Wilson and Huntr/X, according to Variety.
Thanksgiving football broadcasts on traditional television have also showcased high-profile halftime entertainment over the years, ESPN noted, citing sets by Dolly Parton in 2023, Shaboozey in 2024 and Mariah Carey in 2005.
Milestone year for the rock icons
The Thanksgiving Eve booking comes as U2 marks its 50th anniversary since forming in Dublin in 1976, Billboard reported. It also coincides with the rollout of the group’s 16th studio record, “Carnaval de Luz,” which is set for release on Nov. 13 as their first album of fresh material in nine years.
U2 has circulated three preview singles ahead of the project: “Street of Dreams,” “Silencio” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.” A worldwide concert tour in support of the album is planned for 2027, according to ESPN.
The band remains one of live music’s most lucrative attractions. U2 launched the residency format at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2023, generating $244.5 million across 40 dates and selling 663,000 tickets, Billboard reported.
While Netflix plans to stream two additional Christmas Day games later this season, the platform has not yet announced musical acts for those broadcasts. Musical performers for Super Bowl LXI, which will also take place at SoFi Stadium, have not been revealed, according to ESPN.
