Hoda Kotb Reunites With Ex Joel Schiffman at FIFA World Cup Game

Hoda Kotb attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a special guest.

The former Today host took to Instagram to share photos and clips from the France vs. Sweden game at New York New Jersey (a.k.a. Met Life) Stadium on Tuesday, June 30. “Happy world cup!!! France vs Sweeden [sic] @joy101,” she captioned the post.

The upload’s first slide featured a selfie Kotb snapped with actor John Leguizamo. Kotb also captioned a clip of French fans cheering on their team, as well as the flags for both countries being displayed on the field before the match.

The post’s final slide took some fans by surprise, as Kotb took a selfie with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, outside of the stadium. “So good to see the two of you together!” one person wrote in the comments section. Another added, “Great picture of you and Joel.”

Someone else shared, “You and Joel are pretty sweet together.” A different person posted, “Love the picture of you and Joel.” Another commenter stated, “Great picture of you and Joel.”

Some questioned if the photo was a hint at a possible rekindling. “I hope you are back with Joel, life’s too short,” one user gushed. Another said, “WE LOVE JOEL!!!! And we love a soft (re)launch!!! One life to live @hodakotb!!!! So cool you got to see that game!!!” Someone else wrote, “You and Joel make a gorgeous couple.”

 

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Kotb and Schiffman quietly dated for two years before making their relationship public in 2015. They adopted their daughters, Haley and Hope, in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Schiffman also popped the question in 2019. In January 2022, however, Kotb announced on Today that the two had separated over the holidays.

“We decided that we are gonna start this new year and begin it, kind of, on our new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children, and as friends,” she told Jenna Bush Hager on the NBC morning show at the time. “And it’s not like something happened. They say sometimes relationships are meant to be there for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime, and I feel like ours was meant to be there for a season.”

Despite the romance speculation from fans, Kotb and Schiffman have remained close over the years and maintain a friendly co-parenting relationship. She recently celebrated Schiffman on Father’s Day by sharing a sweet photo of him with their daughters.

“Best father’s day to the best father,” she captioned the June 21 Instagram upload.

Schiffman makes occasional appearances on Kotb’s social media feed in photos from other family celebrations. Back in December 2025, he sported matching holiday pajamas with Kotb, their kids, her mother, Sameha Kotb, and her sister, Hala Kotb, on Christmas Day.

Kotb celebrated Schiffman with more family photos for his birthday in March. “Happy bday to the best DAD!!!” she wrote via Instagram at the time.