World Cup final halftime to exceed 15 minutes for inaugural show

The halftime interval at Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will last more than 15 minutes due to the setup required for the tournament's inaugural halftime entertainment show, broadcasting sources told Reuters ↘ 1.88% on Friday.usnews

The installation of the stage for the 11-minute performance is expected to take around seven minutes, with one source adding it would "probably" take as long to dismantle the equipment and clear the pitch before the second half could begin. The Independent reported the total break could stretch to around 20 minutes.sports.yahoo+1

A Regulatory Gray Area

The extended interval raises questions about compliance with the sport's rules. FIFA's World Cup regulations state that matches are played in accordance with the Laws of the Game set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which say players are entitled to a halftime interval "not exceeding 15 minutes". However, the tournament's own regulations say players are entitled to a "15-minute interval" at halftime, without repeating the IFAB language capping the duration.usnews

The Show

Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber will co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19. The performance, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, will also feature Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus.globalcitizen+2

The artists are performing without appearance fees to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for children worldwide and has already raised more than $50 million.bbc+1

Sunday's Final

The match pits defending world champions Argentina against reigning European champions Spain, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET. Argentina are seeking a fourth World Cup title after winning in 1978, 1986, and 2022, while Spain chase their second after triumphing in 2010.mlssoccer+2