In a month, U2 will perform at halftime of the NFL Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
This is a historic moment for the band. They have never performed at SoFi Stadium since it opened in 2020, and it may give a sneak peek at what fans can expect from their upcoming Greatest Show on Earth World Tour in 2027.
The performance comes 12 days after the release of their 16th album, Carnaval de Luz, as well, opening the door for the live debuts of some of those songs.
U2 previously performed the Super Bowl Halftime Show for the NFL in 2002. This was an iconic performance, as the band paid tribute to the victims of 9/11. It remains one of the most famous Super Bowl Halftime Shows ever.
By the time they perform the Thanksgiving Eve Halftime Show, U2 will have released six studio albums with plenty of hits since their Super Bowl Halftime Show. Fans are probably wondering what they will perform.
We won't know until the show kicks off on Nov. 25. However, here are some guesses for songs they could perform during the halftime show.
5. “Elevation”
Figuring out a fifth song for this list was the toughest part. Surely, U2 doesn't want to retread their past halftime show too much, but anthems like “Where the Streets Have No Name” feel like a no-brainer. “Beautiful Day” was a new song at the time of their Super Bowl performance, but they didn't play “Elevation” from the same album, All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The fifth song they could perform is either “Elevation” or “One.” The former is a fun, upbeat song that could get the audience grooving. Meanwhile, “One” is U2's greatest anthem. It's a unifying track, and the visual of SoFi Stadium being lit up by tens of thousands of phones would be awesome.
However, if U2 wants to go in a different direction, something like “American Obituary” or “Song of the Future” from their Days of Ash EP would be amazing to hear live.
4. “Vertigo”
A couple of years after U2's Super Bowl performance, they released “Vertigo,” the lead single from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It's a fast-paced rocker that works perfectly for a halftime show.
In the years since its release, “Vertigo” has become one of U2's greatest hits and a staple of their concerts. It has already been performed 556 times to date and hasn't missed a tour since it came out.
3. “Silencio”
U2 will probably play a couple of songs from Carnaval de Luz. “Silencio” works on a few levels. First, it's a foot-stomping rocker, probably the best rock song they've written since “Vertigo” (more on that song in a moment).
The song is also only 155 seconds long. This works perfectly for a halftime show, which is usually under 15 minutes. If the band wants to play new material while still keeping the audience engaged, “Silencio” is the way to go.
2. “Street of Dreams”
More than likely, U2 will want to use their platform during Netflix's broadcast to showcase not just one but multiple new songs. “Street of Dreams,” the lead single from Carnaval de Luz, fits the bill along with “Silencio.”
It's a really fun track—arguably one of the songs of the summer—with an uplifting theme of coming together for the greater good. Football is all about camaraderie, and together, they are hoping to accomplish their dreams of a Super Bowl championship.
“Street of Dreams” was also used in a short film for the FIFA World Cup, giving it a sports tie. Its message could still be applied to American football.
1. “Where the Streets Have No Name”
Even though U2 already played the song during their past Super Bowl Halftime Show, “Where the Streets Have No Name” has to be played during their show on Thanksgiving Eve.
It's one of the most recognizable songs in their discography, and The Edge's guitar intro is chill-inducing. If U2 wants to remind everyone why they're still “The Greatest Show on Earth,” playing “Where the Streets Have No Name” at SoFi Stadium will do that.
“Where the Streets Have No Name” would be an epic conclusion to the set, and it'd get the crowd pumped with a familiar tune before the second half begins.
How to watch U2's halftime show on Netflix during NFL Thanksgiving Eve game
Netflix subscribers can tune into the U2 halftime show on Wednesday, Nov. 25, on the streaming service. Kickoff for the Rams-Packers game is set for 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Halftime will probably be over an hour after kickoff.
U2 fans won't want to miss the performance. This is one of their first performances to be broadcast in a while. The band recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with a couple of performances in Dublin, Ireland, including one at Mount Temple, the school Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. attended.