Overview
- This week organizers confirmed a star‑studded half‑time lineup including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and Coldplay with performances and staging that require an interval of about 22–30 minutes.
- IFAB’s Laws of the Game state the interval between halves should not exceed 15 minutes but FIFA is relying on organizer agreement and a 2025 Club World Cup precedent when applying a longer break for the final.
- FIFA has further commercialized the event by charging for fan press events and photo opportunities, and by unveiling record prize money plus a commemorative winners’ ring that will be produced and sold.
- Local and federal security have been reinforced at the MetLife Stadium with Secret Service support, and authorities are monitoring air quality after Canadian wildfires as a public‑health precaution for fans and players.
- Longer breaks and extra staging time are expected to extend the broadcast window to roughly 2.5 hours or more and could push the trophy ceremony past midnight if extra time or penalties are required, a change that affects scheduling, policing and fan plans.