FIFA’s plans for the first halftime show in the history of the World Cup final have created controversy before Sunday’s deciding match in New Jersey.
An 11-minute performance featuring some of the world’s biggest music stars will take place between the two halves at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber will co-headline the show, while Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay will also appear.
Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also included in the production.
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The performance itself has been officially confirmed. The uncertainty concerns how long the complete halftime interval will last once the time required to install and remove the stage is included.
Reports differ over length of interval
FIFA has not publicly announced an official halftime duration for the final.
According to a report citing The Athletic, organisers are targeting an interval of approximately 20 minutes.
However, The Times has reported that broadcasters are preparing for a break closer to 30 minutes, twice the traditional halftime period.
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The Times said the longer schedule would allow the stage to be built and removed while giving broadcasters sufficient time to show the 11-minute performance and provide their usual analysis of the opening half.
Until FIFA publishes the final running order, neither figure should be treated as confirmed.
Even the shorter 20-minute proposal, however, would exceed the limit contained in football’s Laws of the Game.
Football law sets 15-minute maximum
Law 7 states that players are entitled to a halftime interval that must not exceed 15 minutes.
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It also says competition regulations must specify the length of the interval and that it may be changed only with the referee’s permission.
According to the official wording published by the International Football Association Board, the permission clause does not remove the stated 15-minute maximum.
There has been no public announcement from IFAB confirming that an exception has been granted for the World Cup final.
A 20 or 30-minute break would therefore appear to conflict with the existing law unless a special arrangement has been approved before the match.
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The issue is not merely administrative. A significantly longer period of inactivity could require players to warm up for a second time before returning to the pitch.
IFAB rejected a proposal in 2021 that would have allowed halftime intervals of up to 25 minutes. Player welfare and the risk of injuries caused by an extended break were among the concerns raised at the time.
Chris Martin curates global line-up
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has curated the performance, but he is not its sole producer.
According to FIFA’s official announcement, the show is being produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted.
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Martin unveiled the expanded cast in a promotional film, describing the event as being “all about togetherness” and adding that “everyone’s invited.”
Shakira and Burna Boy are expected to perform “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament, while the PS22 Chorus will appear with Coldplay.
FIFA has said the 11-minute broadcast will combine football, music and a wider message about access to education.
The organisation has not confirmed whether Martin will perform throughout the show or appear only as part of Coldplay’s contribution.
Show supports education fund
The event is being used to promote the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for education and football programmes benefiting children in underserved communities.
FIFA says more than $50 million has already been raised. One dollar from every ticket sold for the 2026 World Cup has been allocated to the fund.
The initiative also supports FIFA’s Football for Schools programme, which combines football activities with education and life-skills projects.
Shakira recently announced that $500,000 from the fund would be directed towards educational support for children affected by earthquakes in Venezuela.
As reported by NME, the money is being allocated by the education fund rather than donated personally by Shakira.
Claims that every artist will perform without receiving a fee have circulated, but no official statement confirming the financial arrangements has been published.
Closing ceremony begins before kick-off
The halftime performance will form only one part of an extensive entertainment programme surrounding the final.
A separate closing ceremony will begin at 13:30 local time, 90 minutes before the scheduled 15:00 kick-off.
According to FIFA’s closing-ceremony announcement, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and streamer IShowSpeed will perform.
Tom Cruise will make a special appearance, while Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem before the match.
FIFA has advised supporters to arrive early, with the stadium gates due to open four hours before kick-off.
The closing ceremony provides FIFA with a lengthy window for entertainment without disrupting the match itself, which has strengthened criticism of the decision to stage another major performance during halftime.
Previous show also exceeded traditional break
FIFA tested a similar concept during the 2025 Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at the same stadium.
Doja Cat, J Balvin, Tems, Emmanuel Kelly and Coldplay performed during an interval that lasted approximately 24 minutes.
That production was staged high in the stands rather than on the pitch, potentially making the turnaround less complicated than the one planned for Sunday.
Shakira’s appearance during the 2024 Copa América final also contributed to a halftime interval of approximately 26 minutes.
Both events demonstrated the logistical difficulty of fitting a concert-style production into football’s traditional 15-minute break.
The World Cup final show will offer FIFA enormous commercial reach and provide a global platform for its education fund. It will also bring some of the music industry’s most recognisable names to football’s biggest match.
The remaining question is whether the spectacle can be delivered without placing entertainment above the rules and routines that normally govern the sport.
