FIFA is doubling the half-time break at the 2026 World Cup final to between 25 and 30 minutes, introducing the tournament’s first-ever dedicated halftime show. The organization that has run 90-minute matches with a 15-minute interval is now borrowing a page from the NFL’s playbook.
The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and the core performance will run approximately 11 minutes. Artists reported to be involved include Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.
Why this matters beyond the pitch
The 2022 World Cup drew cumulative viewership north of 5 billion. The 2026 tournament, expanding to 48 teams and hosted across North America, is widely expected to surpass that number.
Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter for North America and Europe, with the partnership announced on June 9, 2026. Kraken gets brand placement inside the most-watched sporting event on the planet, at precisely the moment FIFA is engineering its longest, most produced broadcast window in history.
