FIFA Poised to Shatter Its Own Rules with Controversial World Cup Half-Time Show Reveal
FIFA’s at it again, stirring the pot and this time, they’re flagrantly tossing their own rulebook out the window. Picture this: the World Cup final, set for Sunday, July 19, isn’t just about the beautiful game anymore—it’s gearing up to be a spectacle rivaling the Super Bowl, complete with a star-studded halftime show starring Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, and more. Now, here’s the kicker—this halftime break isn’t your usual coffee-and-toilet-run pause. We’re talking nearly 30 minutes off the clock, which smacks right against the 15-minute limit in the Laws of the Game. So, is the beautiful game becoming the beautiful halftime show? And while the broadcasters scramble to nail down exact timings, one can’t help but wonder—are we watching football or a prolonged concert intermission? Fasten your seatbelts; this isn’t your typical halftime.
FIFA has made another controversial move and this time, the footballing body is breaking its own rules.
As is pretty well talked about by now, the World Cup final on Sunday (19 July) is set to feature a Super Bowl-like Half Time Show.
And there’s a star-studded line-up set to entertain the crowd at the MetLife Stadium with the likes of Justin Bieber, Shakira and Madonna featuring.
However, as details of this new feature for the coveted match are announced, it looks like the half-time break is expected to be roughly a whopping 30 minutes long.
Yep, you read that right, as well as the hydration breaks, there could be nearly a half an hour break in the match. This means the footballing body breaching the maximum of 15 minutes that’s allowed under the Laws of the game.
World Cup queen Shakira will of course take to the stage. (Ryan Pierse – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
It’s believed that this is to enable time to accommodate the half-time show. But at least there’s some good news in that ITV and the BBC are both planning to show the full thing, despite earlier reports, according to The Times.
Obviously, with such a big show, set to last 11 minutes and curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, there needs to be additional time to construct the stage and take it down afterwards.
It’s believed that during this, there will be the usual match analysis.
ITV and the BBC are reportedly still waiting for final confirmation from FIFA regarding these timings but it’s believed the broadcasters will have the usual 15 minutes for analysis as well as the 11 minutes for the half-time show.
ITV said: “We can confirm that we will show the World Cup half-time show in full, plus have football analysis either side of the show.
“Any further updates for our broadcast plans will come in the coming days.”
Joining Bieber, Shakira and Madonna in the star-studded line-up on Sunday are BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus.
Shakira and Burna Boy will of course perform this World Cup’s official anthem, ‘Dai Dai’.
Bieber was recently announced in the line-up. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
It’s not the first time that FIFA has ignored this 15-minute maximum for the half-time break. In the Club World Cup final in 2025, it went on for roughly 25 minutes.
And while it’s declined to confirm the total expected length for the half-time on Sunday to media, broadcasters are reportedly expecting it to be around this 30-minute mark.
If England win the World Cup, do we get a bank holiday?
Now that the Three Lions have made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup, thoughts have turned to the possibility that football really could be coming home – and what better way to celebrate England’s success than a day off work?
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously hinted at the prospect of a bank holiday if Thomas Tuchel’s side win the tournament.
“On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final,” he told reporters at a Nato conference on 8 July.
With the final taking place on Sunday (19 July), it’s believed that the celebratory bank holiday would likely fall on the following Friday (24 July).
Only time will tell!
Is this longer half-time going to be controversial?
New rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026
This year, there’s been a whole host of rule changes, many of which are designed to speed up the game and penalise players who drag things out. Some of the new regulations are likely to prove controversial.
10-second substitution
Subbed players now have to get a move on and leave the pitch within ten seconds by the nearest exit point. If they haven’t, their replacement will get held up by one minute until the next stoppage of play, and until then, their side will have to play with 10 men.
5-second throw-ins and goal kicks
If a referee thinks a player is taking too long for a throw-in or goal kick, they’ll start a five-second countdown, by which time the ball needs to be back in play. If it’s not, for throw-ins the opposing team will get their own throw-in, or for a goal kick the other side gets a corner.
Injured players to remain off the pitch for one minute
An injured player treated by medical staff off-field has to stay off the pitch for one minute, leaving their side with just 10 players.
More VAR
VAR can now be used to review an incorrectly awarded corner kick; second yellow cards resulting in a red card; when a player is incorrectly awarded a yellow or red card for another player’s actions; and any attacking fouls that occur before the ball is in play.
Players can’t cover their mouths
Players who cover their mouths in confrontational situations will be handed a red card. It’s believed players might cover their mouths to guard against lip readers while racially abusing other players, which some suspect has happened in the past.
Red cards for players leaving the pitch
Any player who leaves the pitch in protest over a referee’s decision will be handed a red card, and if a team walks off and causes a match to be abandoned, they’ll forfeit the game.
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