The half-time break during Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes as organisers prepare for a Super Bowl-style entertainment show at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The interval will feature an 11-minute performance co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and South Korean pop group BTS.
Sources within FIFA indicated the break is likely to last around 20 minutes, although one option under consideration is to retain the standard 15-minute interval before staging the 11-minute performance.
Under the Laws of the Game, set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), players are entitled to a half-time break “not exceeding 15 minutes.”
However, last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, also staged in New Jersey, featured a 24-minute interval to accommodate performances by Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly.
Star-studded entertainment
Canadian singer Justin Bieber, was recently added to Sunday’s line-up.
The half-time show will also feature Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus alongside Coldplay, with the band’s lead singer Chris Martin serving as curator of the performance.
The World Cup final is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. BST), while the closing ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. BST).
The pre-match entertainment will include performances by Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, while Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem.
Spain await final opponents
Spain secured the first place in the final after defeating France 2-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final in Dallas.
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Luis de la Fuente’s side will face either England or defending champions Argentina, who meet in the second semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday.
(BBC)
