Overview
- FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium will feature the tournament’s first dedicated halftime show and a roughly 25–30 minute break to stage it.
- The performance lineup confirmed by FIFA includes Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS with Chris Martin of Coldplay as creative curator and an 11‑minute core set inside the longer slot.
- Broadcasters and stadium operators must adapt to the longer interval as some networks had initially planned to skip a full live halftime broadcast and concerns remain about how live coverage will be carried.
- The move highlights new commercial pathways for FIFA, with Kraken named as an official crypto exchange supporter and FIFA Collect running on the Avalanche blockchain positioned to benefit if fan engagement rises.
- Critics point to player‑welfare and regulatory questions because IFAB previously rejected longer halftime requests on safety grounds, while some fans have reacted angrily and organizers face tight staging logistics in the days before the final.