World Cup final half-time could run past 25 minutes

Half-time in the Spain v Argentina World Cup final is expected to be unusually long and may become the longest interval in World Cup history. The extended break is linked to an 11-minute stadium show planned for New York New Jersey Stadium.

The performance is set to feature Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS, with extra time needed to build and remove the stage setup before the second half can begin. FIFA has indicated a break of around 20 minutes, but the overall interval could reportedly go beyond 25 minutes depending on matchday logistics.

That creates an interesting football question as well as an entertainment one. Ifab’s laws say the half-time interval should not exceed 15 minutes, and a longer pause may require players to manage their bodies differently before returning to the pitch.

There is recent precedent for a longer FIFA-run interval in New Jersey: last year’s Club World Cup final half-time lasted 24 minutes because of an entertainment performance. The World Cup final is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 local time, after a closing ceremony earlier in the day.