Sunday's Argentina-Spain final at MetLife Stadium will feature a first-ever, Super Bowl-style halftime show, doubling the standard 15-minute break, even after football's own rulemaking body previously rejected a similar request
Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will include something no previous FIFA World Cup final has ever had: a full-scale, Super Bowl-style halftime show, and the extended break required to stage it.
According to multiple sports outlets, broadcasters are preparing for a halftime interval of roughly 30 minutes at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, twice the 15-minute maximum permitted under the laws of the game. FIFA has reportedly declined on several occasions to confirm the exact length of the break in advance, though production planning across broadcast partners points to a half-hour window rather than the standard quarter hour.
This marks the first time FIFA has staged a full halftime show at a men's World Cup final. The organization ran a similar, though shorter, production at last year's Club World Cup final, where the halftime interval was stretched to 25 minutes.
The halftime show itself is expected to feature Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, according to FIFA's own announcements in the lead-up to the tournament. Beyond the in-game halftime performance, FIFA has also scheduled a separate pregame show beginning 90 minutes before kickoff, featuring Robbie Williams, actor Tom Cruise, and singer Nicole Scherzinger.
The extended break represents a notable reversal for the sport's rulemaking body. The International Football Association Board, which governs the laws of the game, previously rejected a request from CONMEBOL, South American football's governing confederation, to extend the maximum halftime break to 25 minutes, citing concerns over player welfare and safety from a longer period of inactivity.
That earlier concern is now resurfacing around Sunday's match. Players and coaches, accustomed to a 15-minute turnaround between halves, will face an unfamiliar disruption to their recovery, warmup, and tactical preparation before the second half. The challenge is compounded by the fact that the performance will take place directly on the field itself, requiring crews to construct a stage after the first half ends, then dismantle and clear it before players return to the pitch.
Kickoff for Sunday's final is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. Israel time, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
