FIFA is targeting half-time during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to last no longer than 20 minutes.Coldplay’s Chris Martin has curated a line-up that includes Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Madonna, Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and PS22 Chorus. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will also be part of the show.FIFA has previously said the performance will be 11 minutes long and described it as a “landmark celebration at the intersection of sport, music and global impact.”World football’s governing body, however, is yet to reveal the total length of half-time during the final, although multiple sources have told The Athletic they are targeting it to last around 20 minutes.FIFA has been approached for comment.The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmakers, states, per its rulebook, that half-time should not exceed 15 minutes and that the interval “may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”It is highly unusual for the 15-minute break to be extended, so it will create a unique challenge for the players and coaches who are not accustomed to a longer interval.Even though this will be the first time FIFA has held a half-time show at the World Cup, it did have one during last summer’s Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, which was also staged at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.That performance included Tems, J Balvin and Doja Cat, and took place on a stage high up in the stands, lasting just over 24 minutes.A key difference for the World Cup final, however, is that the show will take place on the pitch, meaning a stage will need to be erected and collapsed before and after the performance.In the Copa America final two years ago, a tournament organised by the South American body Conmebol, Shakira performed during half-time at Hard Rock Stadium, with Argentina and Colombia waiting around 26 minutes before the second half got underway.The Super Bowl, which is synonymous with a half-time show, regularly sees the NFL players spending between 20 to 30 minutes off the field. During the regular season, an NFL game interval lasts a strict 13 minutes.Sunday’s World Cup final half-time show is being produced by Global Citizen and sources from the organisation, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, previously told The Athletic that the artists are not receiving a fee for performing.FIFA has said its Global Citizen Education Fund is seeking to raise $100 million to “expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide.”
FIFA targeting 20-minute break for World Cup half-time
The half-time show during Sunday's showpiece, featuring Justin Bieber, Shakira and Madonna, will be a first in the tournament's history.











