- 3News reported that the World Cup final will include an 11-minute halftime music performance.
- The report said the full halftime interval could last between 25 and 30 minutes.
- IFAB Law 7 normally limits halftime to 15 minutes, subject to authorised changes.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to include a live halftime music performance that could extend the match interval beyond the 15 minutes set out in football’s Laws of the Game, according to 3News.
The outlet reported that Argentina and Spain are due to play in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. FIFA has reportedly scheduled an 11-minute performance featuring artists including Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Burna Boy.
The production is said to be organised with Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. It is intended to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand education and football opportunities for children.
Halftime rule
Law 7 of the International Football Association Board’s Laws of the Game provides for a halftime interval of no more than 15 minutes. The duration may be altered only with the referee’s permission and in line with the competition regulations.
Although the planned performance is expected to last 11 minutes, 3News said the work required to put a stage in place and remove it could take the total break beyond that limit. The BBC and ITV were reported to be preparing for an interval of between 25 and 30 minutes, including time for their usual studio analysis.
The report said FIFA used a similar entertainment arrangement at the 2025 Club World Cup final at the same venue, when halftime reportedly lasted more than 24 minutes.
Education fund
FIFA has linked the planned show to its education fund, which it says is intended to raise US$100 million. The organisation is also donating US$1 from every World Cup ticket sold to the initiative, according to the report.
Live halftime entertainment is a familiar feature of major North American sports events, notably the Super Bowl. Pre-match concerts have also featured at recent UEFA Champions League finals, but the reported plan would mark a new format for the World Cup final itself.
Whether FIFA will retain the format for future finals remains unclear. The reported arrangement would require the competition’s halftime procedures to accommodate a substantially longer interval than the standard break.
