FIFA break laws of football with controversial World Cup final decision
FIFA are set to break one of football's most sacred laws for the World Cup final on Sunday.
The semi-finals of the inaugural 48-team tournament kick off on Tuesday night, with the big one taking place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in less than a week.
The 2026 showpiece has broken new ground with a whole host of changes varying from new pre-match ceremonies and hydration breaks to drastic referee rules.
And it will do so again with the first ever half-time show during the World Cup final.
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Following on from the tradition made famous in the NFL with the yearly Super Bowl show, an 11-minute performance featuring a plethora of huge artists will take place.
Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna and BTS are just some of the huge artists involved in the show, which is being produced by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
There is also additional involvement from characters featured in Sesame Street and The Muppets.
However, the show will go against a longstanding rule in football which stipulates that half-time last 15 minutes.
According to the rulebook from IFAB (International Football Association Board), the break "may be altered only with the referee’s permission".
While the show is 11 minutes, extra time is needed to erect and remove the stage on the pitch where the artists will perform.
FIFA have not confirmed an exact time but The Athletic, citing multiple sources, say that the aim is for the whole half-time to last 20 minutes.
The Times, meanwhile, report that the break will last up to 30 minutes and that both ITV and BBC are expected to air the half-time show in full.
In last year's Club World Cup final, a half-time show did take place at the same host stadium in the middle of Chelsea's 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Half-time lasted 24 minutes to allow for Doja Cat, Tems and J Balvin to perform in the stands rather than on the pitch.
In the Copa America in 2024, Shakira produced a half-time performance at the Hard Rock Stadium which led to a 26-minute interval while Argentina and Colombia were waiting in the dressing room.
How much will artists be paid for World Cup final half-time show?
The first ever half-time show is likely to amass significant viewing figures across the globe but in a similar situation to the Super Bowl, no performer will be paid.
The Athletic received information that the likes of Justin Bieber and Shakira are not receiving a fee.
That's because the show is being produced in collaboration with charity Global Citizen. The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is aiming to raise $100 million to "expand access to quality education and sports for children worldwide" and supporting FIFA's Football for Schools programme.
As announced by Shakira, $500,000 is being given to children in Venezuela following the recent earthquakes in the country.
In addition to the half-time show, there will also be a closing ceremony featuring performances from Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger and IShowSpeed, who has been streaming at a number of games.
Hollywood legend Tom Cruise will make a special appearance and Jennifer Hudson will sing the United States national anthem.
Topics: FIFA, FIFA World Cup
Josh Lawless