Overview
- FIFA staged the first-ever World Cup final halftime show on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium, delivering an 11‑minute on‑pitch production during the Spain‑Argentina final.
- The production required extensive staging and pitch work that lengthened the usual 15‑minute interval to roughly 27 minutes, a change permitted by the tournament’s competition regulations despite IFAB guidance advising shorter breaks.
- The fast‑cut show was curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and featured Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay with the PS22 chorus, The Muppets and surprise cameos from Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
- Reaction was sharply divided: many fans praised individual performances while TV pundits and viewers criticised the tone and length of the spectacle, with BBC analyst Wayne Rooney calling it “crap.”
- FIFA and Global Citizen said the show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund’s $100 million goal, and organisers face a fresh debate over whether large halftime entertainment will become a regular feature and how it affects players and match flow.