FIFA plans 30-minute halftime show for World Cup final, breaching rules

FIFA is reportedly pushing for an extended 30-minute halftime show during the upcoming World Cup final, a move that would significantly breach the sport's own Laws of the Game, which cap any match interval at 15 minutes. Broadcasters BBC and ITV are preparing for this longer break, which is expected to include an 11-minute performance segment alongside the standard 15 minutes of pundit analysis.

This is not the first time FIFA has bent the rules regarding halftime length. The governing body previously allowed a 25-minute halftime at last year's Club World Cup. Furthermore, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) staged a 25-minute Shakira concert during the 2024 Copa America final in Miami. This decision drew a complaint from Colombia's head coach, Néstor Lorenzo, who had previously been sanctioned for his team's late return from a break in the same tournament.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), football's lawmaking body, rejected a proposal in 2021 to extend the maximum halftime interval to 25 minutes, citing concerns about the "negative impact on player welfare and safety resulting from a longer period of inactivity." Despite these concerns, FIFA appears intent on creating a Super Bowl-style spectacle for the World Cup final. Some quarters have also expressed suspicion that the three-minute hydration breaks scheduled for each half might be used as an opportunity for additional advertising.

Performers reportedly billed for the halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey include Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus, alongside Coldplay. A closing ceremony is also anticipated before the match, featuring artists like Robbie Williams and Tom Cruise. FIFA had not responded to requests for comment regarding the extended halftime at the time of the report.

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negative impact on player welfare and safety resulting from a longer period of inactivity.