Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 14
Fifa Extends World Cup Final Half-Time to 25 Minutes for 11-Minute Show
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 14

Fifa Extends World Cup Final Half-Time to 25 Minutes for 11-Minute Show

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 14

Summary

  • Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey is expected to have a 20- to 25-minute half-time break, well beyond the usual 15 minutes.
  • An 11-minute Super Bowl-style performance featuring Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber is driving the extension, with one option combining the standard interval and the full show.
  • Ifab's laws say players are entitled to a half-time break not exceeding 15 minutes, creating a rules tension around Fifa's entertainment plans.
  • Fifa used a similar format at last year's Club World Cup final in the same stadium, where a Coldplay-led half-time show stretched the break to 24 minutes.
  • The final kicks off at 15:00 local time after a 13:30 closing ceremony; Spain are through and will face either England or Argentina.

Insights

Is the World Cup final sacrificing sporting integrity for a star-studded, American-style halftime show?
As host cities face massive shortfalls, who are the real winners of the most expensive World Cup ever?
Can a halftime show's social message truly resonate amid the tournament's record-breaking commercialism?