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Half-time stretched
The World Cup final half-time break is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes, with an 11-minute Super Bowl-style show planned during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium.
“Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has assembled quite the star-studded lineup for the first-ever World Cup final halftime performance”
BBC News is cited in the report as saying the performance will be co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS, with Justin Bieber added to the bill last week.
The laws of the game, governed by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), state that players are entitled to a half-time break “not exceeding 15 minutes,” creating a discrepancy between the planned entertainment and the rule limit.
The BBC also notes that the half-time break in last year's Club World Cup final lasted a total of 24 minutes due to a performance featuring Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.
The World Cup final is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST), and the closing ceremony is set to start at 13:30 local time (18:30 BST).
Broadcast and backlash
The Manchester Evening News says the BBC and ITV were set to U-turn on their decision to not show the World Cup final half-time show, with the show anticipated to last between 25 and 30 minutes at MetLife Stadium.
It adds that the International FA Board (IFAB) state a half time break cannot be longer than 15 minutes due to concerns about player welfare, while FIFA is described as having ignored the rule at the Club World Cup final last year.
A FIFA spokesman is quoted by the Mirror saying: "Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS will co-headline the historic FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show."
The Mirror also quotes a fan, Fil Sollof, saying: "Thirty minutes for half time is a joke. How can FIFA change the rules of the game just like that?"
The same report places the England semi-final against Argentina on July 15 at 8pm, with the clash kicking off at 8pm on Wednesday, July 15, and the half-time show expected to take place from around 8:45pm in the UK.
Stakes for players and production
The New York Times reports that FIFA is targeting half-time during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to last no longer than 20 minutes, while also noting that the show is being produced by Global Citizen and sources told The Athletic the artists are not receiving a fee for performing.
“World Cup 2026 half-time extension signals crypto’s growing role in sports broadcasting FIFA's decision to stretch the final's half-time break to 25 minutes is about more than ad revenue — it's a window into how crypto is reshaping tournament economics”
It says the IFAB rulebook states that half-time should not exceed 15 minutes and that the interval “may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”
Variety adds that the halftime show lineup will include members of the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting a tribute to Venezuela in the wake of its recent devastating earthquakes.
Variety quotes Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans saying, “I think this is going to create this absolutely unforgettable moment,” and also says the orchestras will jointly perform a tribute to Venezuela.
The Variety report also describes production constraints, saying the halftime show is extremely limited with what it can bring onto the pitch and that the orchestra members will have to perform standing up.
