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FIFA Sets 30-Minute World Cup Final Halftime, Star-Studded Show

7/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

FIFA will extend halftime of the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to 30 minutes.
The break, projected at 20-30 minutes, exceeds the IFAB-mandated 15-minute limit.
Musician Chris Martin will curate an 11-minute halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy.

History

Historical Context

Since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, finals have kept a 15-minute halftime, a rule overseen by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The 1998 final in Paris’s 80,000-seat Stade de France followed that norm. FIFA’s 2026 proposal to double halftime to 30 minutes therefore challenges a six-decade precedent and could force IFAB to revisit the timing rule.

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Story summary

FIFA will extend halftime of the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to 30 minutes.
The break, projected at 20-30 minutes, exceeds the IFAB-mandated 15-minute limit.
Musician Chris Martin will curate an 11-minute halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy.

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