FIFA has informed Spain and Argentina that the World Cup final half-time show will last 17 minutes, following concerns that it could extend to 30 minutes. The match, scheduled for Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with an 8pm BST kick-off, will feature a Super Bowl-style show for the first time.
Star-Studded Lineup and Timing
Justin Bieber will join Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop boyband BTS as co-headliners, with the show curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay. Earlier reports suggested the half-time show could last up to 30 minutes, which would exceed the maximum 15-minute break permitted under the International FA Board's (IFAB) Laws of the Game.
FIFA has contacted both football associations to confirm that the half-time break will total 17 minutes. Six minutes will be allocated to stage assembly and dismantling, while the performance itself will be condensed into an 11-minute block.
Previous Precedents and Concerns
In last year's Club World Cup final, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue, FIFA's half-time show lasted 24 minutes. In 2021, CONMEBOL sought to extend the maximum half-time length to 25 minutes, but IFAB rejected the proposal due to 'negative impact on player welfare and safety resulting from a longer period of inactivity'.
During the 2024 Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, the half-time show ran for approximately 25 minutes. Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo expressed concerns before his side's 1-0 defeat: 'I think the half-time for the final should be 15 minutes because those are the rules. But now apparently, because there's going to be a concert, we'll be walking back out 20 to 25 minutes later. This could affect the players' fitness, they could cool down too much.'
Additional Ceremonies
Sunday's World Cup final will also feature a closing ceremony starting 90 minutes before kick-off, involving Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise, and Nicole Scherzinger.
