The halftime show at MetLife Stadium will feature an international lineup including Madonna, Justin Bieber and Shakira.
EAST RUTHERFORD: FIFA is set to stage an expanded Super Bowl-style halftime show during the 2026 World Cup final, a move expected to extend the match’s halftime interval to about 30 minutes despite football’s traditional 15-minute break.
Broadcasters are preparing for an interval that will include an approximately 11-minute musical performance in addition to their regular halftime analysis.
The extended break follows FIFA’s use of a longer halftime during the 2025 Club World Cup, where the interval exceeded the limit set by the Laws of the Game.
The halftime show at MetLife Stadium will feature an international lineup including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.
Shakira will perform at a FIFA World Cup ceremony for the second time after previously appearing at an opening ceremony.
The World Cup final will also be preceded by a closing ceremony beginning 90 minutes before kickoff, with scheduled appearances by Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise and Nicole Scherzinger, making the event one of the largest entertainment spectacles in the tournament’s history.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the Laws of the Game, previously rejected a proposal to increase the maximum halftime interval to 25 minutes, citing concerns over player welfare and safety.
However, similar extended halftime entertainment was featured during the 2024 Copa América final, drawing criticism from players and coaches.
The longer interval and in-game hydration breaks have sparked debate among football observers, with critics arguing the changes prioritize commercial opportunities over the traditional flow of the game.
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FIFA has not publicly commented on concerns surrounding the duration of the World Cup final’s halftime break.
