FIFA is facing fresh accusations of hypocrisy after plans emerged to extend the World Cup final half-time break beyond the maximum length permitted under the Laws of the Game – as pressure builds on president Gianni Infantino from senior figures across world football.
The governing body is expected to stage a Super Bowl-style half-time show at Sunday's World Cup final in New York/New Jersey, with broadcasters ITV and the BBC anticipating the interval will last around 30 minutes, the Times report.
However, the Laws of the Game state that the half-time interval "must not exceed 15 minutes" – a limit set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which rejected a proposal to extend the break to 25 minutes in 2021 because of concerns over player welfare and safety.
FIFA's Previous Breach and Political Pressure
FIFA has already ignored that restriction once before, with last year's Club World Cup in the US final featuring a 25-minute interval to accommodate entertainment, and it has repeatedly declined to confirm how long the World Cup final break will last.
The apparent willingness to sidestep the game's own laws comes as Infantino faces increasing political pressure behind the scenes. talkSPORT reports senior officials within the football associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Spain have all discussed backing an alternative European candidate to challenge Infantino's leadership when his presidency next comes under scrutiny.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been mentioned as a potential challenger, although he is currently not expected to stand. Should that remain the case, Poland is understood to favour Legia Warsaw owner Dariusz Mioduski as a European candidate.
Double Standards and Precedent
The timing leaves FIFA facing awkward questions. The organisation has long insisted on strict adherence to the Laws of the Game by players, coaches and competitions, yet appears prepared to bend those same rules when it comes to its own flagship events.
The issue is not without precedent. South American governing body CONMEBOL staged a 25-minute Shakira concert during the 2024 Copa America final after its own proposal to extend half-time had been rejected by IFAB. Colombia boss Néstor Lorenzo later complained that he had been punished earlier in the tournament after his side returned one minute late from the dressing room, while the organisers faced no sanction.
Half-Time Show Details
ITV and the BBC are both expected to show the full 11-minute half-time show, featuring artists including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay. The extended interval is also expected to allow broadcasters their usual half-time analysis either side of the performances.
