The halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final has provoked controversy before the ball has even rolled. The main doubt is how long the presentation will last and to what extent the break may exceed the 15 minutes stipulated by the rules of the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
Break of up to 30 minutes in the World Cup final causes outrage on the web
The halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final has provoked controversy before the ball has even rolled. The main doubt is how long the presentation will last and to what extent the break may exceed the 15 minutes...
With Spain and Argentina confirmed in the decision, scheduled for this Sunday, another issue began to dominate discussions among fans: the length of the match's half-time.
The game that will define the world champion will be interrupted by a musical performance, which should increase the players' rest time and change the traditional rhythm of a football match.
FIFA decided to once again promote a show during halftime of a final played in the United States. The performance will feature names such as Shakira, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Madonna and the South Korean group BTS, with production by Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay.
A similar situation occurred in the 2025 Club World Cup final, also held at the MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey. At the time, the show caused the interval to exceed the 15-minute limit established by Ifab.
FIFA only informed that the musical performances will last 11 minutes, but did not explain how long it will take to assemble and remove the structure from the pitch.
According to the French newspaper L'Équipe, the break between the first and second half could last 20 to 30 minutes. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the show will be “a memorable celebration between the worlds of sport, music and global influence”.
The precedent is worrying because, in the decision of the 2025 Club World Cup, the interval reached 25 minutes, longer than the period foreseen in the football rules.
Duration of the show worries broadcastersThe broadcasters responsible for broadcasting the final in different countries are also awaiting more accurate information about the schedule at MetLife Stadium.
According to L'Équipe, the channels have not yet received confirmation from FIFA about the total duration of the break.
"We have been asking for information since the beginning of the week, but we have only received vague indications. We know that the opening ceremony will start 80 minutes before the game and that the pre-game protocol will start 20 minutes before. Regarding the interval, even if it is longer, we don't imagine it lasting half an hour. From a sporting point of view, it would be strange", said a professional involved in the broadcast.
In addition to the difficulties for broadcasters' programming, there are also doubts about the possible effects of the long strike on the players of both teams.
Spain and Argentina enter the field this Sunday, at 4pm, Brasília time, to decide the title of the 2026 World Cup.
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Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora
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