The half-time interval in Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final is expected to last up to 25 minutes to accommodate an elaborate entertainment performance at New York New Jersey Stadium.
FIFA organisers have planned an 11-minute Super Bowl-style show co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop group BTS, with additional performances from Burna Boy, Justin Bieber and others. Sources indicate the break could combine the standard 15-minute interval with the entertainment segment.
The laws of the game allow a half-time break “not exceeding 15 minutes,” but last year’s Club World Cup final in the same venue saw an extended 24-minute interval for a similar show.
The final kicks off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST), with Spain facing either England or Argentina. A closing ceremony featuring Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams and others will precede the match. The extended break aims to enhance the spectacle of football’s showpiece event.
