FIFA breaks with tradition: the World Cup final will have a break of up to 30 minutes for its great musical spectacle

The 2026 World Cup final will mark a before and after in the history of football. FIFA is preparing an unprecedented spectacle during the halftime of the match that Spain will play this Sunday against England or Argentina, a decision that will force the usual 15-minute break to be extended to between 25 and 30 minutes to accommodate musical performances, as we reported in 'ElConstitucional.es'.

According to The Times, the organization chaired by Gianni Infantino has already planned to modify the match protocol to allow for a Super Bowl-style show. The stage is expected to feature Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Burna Boy, and Coldplay, although FIFA has yet to officially detail the event's development. The British newspaper points out that the match referee will formalize the extension of the break, although the decision would already be agreed upon by the organization.

The spectacle follows the line of the grand show with which FIFA inaugurated the 2026 World Cup, a ceremony starring international artists such as Shakira, Belinda, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, among others, with which the organization already made clear its commitment to bringing the tournament closer to the Super Bowl entertainment model.

The measure raises questions about its sporting impact, as this time it will occur during the halftime break. Such a prolonged break will force both teams to modify their physical and mental preparation in the locker rooms to avoid losing competitive rhythm before the second half. At the same time, it could benefit the team that arrives more fatigued at halftime, by having more time to recover and reorganize tactically, thus altering one of the most traditional elements of football.

FIFA already experimented with a similar format during the Club World Cup final held in the United States, where the halftime show lasted for 24 minutes, an initiative that received criticism from the participating teams. On this occasion, the organization links the event to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aimed at raising funds to facilitate access to education and sport worldwide. Part of the World Cup ticket revenue will be allocated to this solidarity initiative, which will also feature the participation of characters from Sesame Street as part of the show.