On July 4, 2026, the United States will be 250 years old. To celebrate, officials will bury a time capsule in Philadelphia. The capsule holds items from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and US territories. It will be opened on July 4, 2276, for the nation's 500th birthday.

Some states sent many items. Utah sent 100 cards, 13 coins, eight documents, and more. Arkansas sent a diamond. Maine sent a bone from an endangered whale. Wisconsin sent a feather from a famous eagle named Old Abe. California sent a computer chip and a guess from AI about what the state may look like in 2276.

Keeping the items safe for 250 years was hard. Water can ruin a time capsule. Michael Berilla and his team at NIST made the capsule from stainless steel. They sealed it with a soft metal to block water. The capsule is round like a can, not a box, because boxes can crack at the corners. A heavy steel cover will sit on top to protect it. Berilla said the capsule is so safe that Philadelphia would need to be six feet underwater for water to get in.

The capsule will be buried near Independence Hall in Philadelphia. That is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. A special sculpture shaped like a snake will mark the spot. The snake design comes from Benjamin Franklin's old drawing called Join, or Die. The National Park Service will keep records so future rangers can find the capsule.

When the capsule opens in 2276, the first things people will see are a photo of the engineering team and a letter from Berilla. The letter says, Greetings from the hearts and hands of 2026. We will be gone, but our hope for the future is alive inside this steel. We built this for you.

The World Cup final is on July 19, 2026, in New Jersey. For the first time in 96 years, there will be a halftime show. It will be like the Super Bowl halftime show. Before, music was only at the start or end of the tournament. The show is a team-up between FIFA and a group called Global Citizen. Big stars like Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will sing. Characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street will also be there. This includes Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. The show has a goal to help others. It wants to raise $100 million for education and soccer for kids in poor areas. FIFA will give one dollar from each ticket sold to help. Not everyone likes the idea. In soccer, halftime is usually 15 minutes. A longer break can make players' muscles stiff. FIFA will make halftime 30 minutes for the show. The music will last only 11 minutes. The extra time is for setting up and taking down the stage. Players will get a short warm-up before the second half. Some people worry the longer break will hurt players' performance. If the show works well, it might become a regular thing for future World Cups.