FIFA is preparing to stretch the half-time interval of Sunday’s World Cup final well beyond the usual limit. The break is expected to run between 20 and 25 minutes, making room for a star-studded performance during the biggest match of the tournament.
An 11-minute show will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium. Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop group BTS headline the performance. Justin Bieber joined the lineup last week, alongside Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin curated the entire show.
Rules Allow Only 15 Minutes, But FIFA Has Bent Them Before
Football’s laws, set by the International Football Association Board, limit the half-time break to no more than 15 minutes. Sources close to FIFA suggest organisers may keep the interval near 20 minutes, though one option under discussion pairs a standard 15-minute break with the 11-minute performance tacked on afterward.
This would not be the first time FIFA has gone past the limit. Last year’s Club World Cup final, also staged in New Jersey, saw the half-time run for 24 minutes. That break featured performances from Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.
The approach mirrors what the Super Bowl has done for decades. That event typically runs a 12 to 15-minute halftime show, with past headliners including Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga. FIFA’s push toward longer entertainment breaks signals a shift toward treating the World Cup final more like an American-style spectacle.
Closing Ceremony and Kickoff Details Confirmed
Beyond the half-time show, FIFA has confirmed a closing ceremony for the tournament, set to begin at 13:30 local time, 90 minutes before kickoff. Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed will perform as part of the ceremony. Jennifer Hudson will sing the United States national anthem.
The final itself kicks off at 15:00 local time, 20:00 BST. Reaction to the extended entertainment has been mixed among fans. Some have criticised FIFA for leaning too heavily into American sporting traditions, while others have welcomed the lineup and called it a fitting way to close out the tournament.
Spain Secure Their Place, Opponent Still Undecided
Spain has already booked their spot in the final. They beat France 2-0 in the first semi-final, played in Dallas. Their opponent will be decided in the second semi-final between England and Argentina, played in Atlanta.
The winner of that match will face Spain on Sunday, with the half-time entertainment now shaping up to be one of the most talked-about elements of the closing stages of the tournament. FIFA has not yet issued a final, official confirmation on the exact length of the break, though all signals point toward an interval well beyond the standard 15 minutes.
Broadcasters have already adjusted their coverage plans around the extended break, with build-up, half-time analysis and post-match reaction all factored into schedules across networks carrying the final.
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