The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina played host to an extended half-time break at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Coldplay, Justin Biber and Shakira took centre stage from Lionel Messi and co21:12, 19 Jul 2026Updated 21:35, 19 Jul 2026World Cup final fans have fumed over the length of the half-time show at MetLife Stadium as Spain and Argentina were forced to take an extended break. The finalists were forced to wait a massive 27minutes and 18 seconds to return to the field.In an unprecedented move, FIFA's showpiece event saw a planned break that extended beyond the traditional 15 minutes. The show itself, comprising the likes of Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and K-pop band BTS, was expected to be 11 minutes long with additional time required to set up and take down the performance infrastructure.World football's governing body declined to clarify how long the interval at this year's World Cup final would be on multiple occasions. But, after backlash over the possibility of a 30-minute break, the intention was for the break to last a total of 17 minutes.Safe to say, the break was too long for most fans, even in a match that was harder to watch than most."This is actually disgraceful I cant lie," said one fan on social media. Another said: "Horrendously long half time show that nobody cares to watch btw @FIFA do better"JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page"I much preferred football when it was a game of two halfs and half-time was barely long enough for the manager to swear at the players and throw teacups round the dressing room," added another."I hope with this really long half time, there won’t be another hydration break…" pleaded a further fan. "This half time show is over the top and too long. When is the second half starting?!" said another.Coldplay's Chris Martin curated the performance, which also featured Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Philharmonic director Gustavo Dudamel, and PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay. The likes of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal were forced into an extended break in New Jersey.The BBC and ITV were initially not going to broadcast the show and planned to focus on the highlights and analysis from the opening 45 minutes. However, with the break extended, it was deemed possible to broadcast analysis and the on-pitch exploits at the break.Gary Neville found something to like about the show. Speaking on ITV, he said: "I quite enjoyed it, let's hope the second half picks up and there's loads of energy in that."On BBC, Wayne Rooney's verdict was less kind. "I'll be honest, mine (highlight) was when it finished," he said."I like lot of those artists but I thought it was crap. I did, honestly. It just didn't get me going. I want the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira. That was flat."Last summer, FIFA also saw an extended break for the Club World Cup final. They flaunted the rules regarding the length of time between halves for the clash between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain where the interval stretched to 25 minutes.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Content cannot be displayed without consent