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World Cup final to feature star-studded halftime show with BTS, Madonna

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The 2026 World Cup final will feature a halftime show for the first time, inspired by the NFL's Super Bowl.
  • The show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will include performances by artists like Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS.
  • FIFA has clarified that the performance will last 11 minutes, with a total halftime break of 17 minutes, to comply with player rest regulations.

The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup final will break new ground by introducing a halftime show, a concept borrowed from the NFL's Super Bowl. This inaugural performance aims to be the "largest scale stage in history," according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and is expected to draw billions of viewers worldwide.

The show's production is being helmed by Chris Martin, the frontman of the band Coldplay. The lineup of performers is a star-studded affair, featuring global music icons such as Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and the South Korean supergroup BTS.

Initial reports from British media had speculated that the halftime show could extend the break to nearly 30 minutes, raising concerns about its impact on player performance and adherence to competition rules. FIFA's "Laws of the Game" stipulate a maximum 15-minute halftime rest for players.

To address these concerns, FIFA has officially stated that the performance itself will be limited to 11 minutes. Including the time needed for stage setup and removal, the total halftime interval is expected to be 17 minutes, ensuring compliance with regulations while still delivering a significant entertainment spectacle.

will be the largest scale stage in history

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino described the upcoming World Cup final halftime show.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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