FIFA Eyes 30-Minute Halftime for 2026 World Cup Final – Complete With Super Bowl-Style Show

FIFA is reportedly planning to extend the halftime break for the 2026 World Cup final to as long as 30 minutes, clearing room for a full-scale entertainment spectacle at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The move would mirror the kind of show staged during the Super Bowl. According to sources, broadcasters BBC and ITV are already bracing for the change. Their coverage would feature the usual 15-minute game analysis, followed by an 11-minute live performance on the pitch, pushing the total break to half an hour. Soccer’s rulebook limits halftime to 15 minutes, but FIFA has already bent that norm. Last year’s Club World Cup final featured a 25-minute intermission. On top of that, both halves now include three-minute hydration breaks – widely suspected to be additional advertising windows. Earlier reports revealed the planned halftime lineup for Sunday’s final: Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus along with Coldplay, and Sesame Street puppets. Spain have already secured their spot in the final. The second finalist will be decided today, July 15, when England take on Argentina at 10:00 PM local time.