Overview
- Recent reporting indicates the halftime show at the World Cup final in New Jersey is likely to run about 20 minutes, longer than the 15-minute interval set by the laws of the game.
- Performers reported for the on-field production include Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Burna Boy, reflecting a Super Bowl–style entertainment plan not previously used at a World Cup final.
- IFAB’s regulation caps the interval between halves at 15 minutes and allows extensions only with the match referee’s consent, so any longer show would require official approval.
- Organizers face practical hurdles because the show will be staged on the pitch, which raises concerns about the time needed to build and remove the stage, potential turf damage and impacts on broadcast schedules.
- FIFA previously cited an 11-minute show and has not publicly responded to the newer reports, leaving the final length, referee decision and operational plans unsettled.