World Cup final half-time show to last up to 25 minutes
By BBC, July 15, 2026The half-time break in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes to accommodate a Super Bowl-style entertainment show featuring some of the world’s biggest music stars.
An 11-minute performance, co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop group BTS, will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium.
While sources within FIFA suggest the break will last around 20 minutes, it is understood that one option under consideration is to keep the traditional 15-minute interval before staging the planned 11-minute performance.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the Laws of the Game, states that players are entitled to a half-time break “not exceeding 15 minutes.”
However, last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, also organised by FIFA and staged in New Jersey, featured a 24-minute half-time interval following performances by Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.
The entertainment lineup for Sunday’s final has continued to expand, with Justin Bieber recently added to the bill.
He joins Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus and Coldplay, whose lead singer Chris Martin curated the performance.
The World Cup final will kick off at 10 pm local time.
Ahead of the match, fans will also be treated to a closing ceremony beginning at 10:00 pm local time.
The ceremony is expected to feature appearances from Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and streamer IShowSpeed, while Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem.
On the pitch, Spain became the first nation to secure a place in the final after defeating France 2-0 in Dallas.
They will face the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final between England and Argentina, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s showpiece.
The expanded entertainment programme marks FIFA’s latest attempt to make the World Cup final a global spectacle beyond football, mirroring the success of the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime show and attracting audiences beyond the sport.