Fans watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday should prepare for a longer-than-usual half-time break, as FIFA plans a Super Bowl-style entertainment spectacle featuring some of the biggest names in global music.
The half-time interval at the New York New Jersey Stadium is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes, extending beyond football’s traditional 15-minute break.
The main performance will feature global superstars Madonna, Shakira and South Korean group BTS, with the concert itself expected to last about 11 minutes.
Sources within FIFA indicate that the governing body is considering a total half-time interval of around 20 minutes. Another option being discussed is maintaining the standard 15-minute break before holding the entertainment show immediately after the match interval.
According to the Laws of the Game set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), players are entitled to a half-time interval of no more than 15 minutes. However, FIFA has previously made exceptions for major events requiring extended entertainment programmes.
During last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, the half-time break lasted 24 minutes after performances from artists including Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.
The World Cup final entertainment package has also been expanded with the addition of Justin Bieber, who will join Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus and Coldplay. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin will serve as curator of the show.
The final will kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time in New Jersey (20:00 BST, 7:00 p.m. GMT), following a closing ceremony scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time (18:30 BST).
Spain booked their place in the final after defeating France 2-0 in the first semi-final in Dallas. They will face Argentina, with football’s most prestigious trophy set to be decided on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
