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FIFA has limited the World Cup 2026 final halftime break to 17 minutes, including an 11-minute musical performance.
This decision serves as a major relief for Spain and Argentina, as initial projections feared the Super Bowl-style stage setup could stretch the intermission to as long as 30 minutes.
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The scheduled performance will be the first of its kind at a World Cup final and features a massive lineup, including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS.
There had been significant concerns from both coaching staffs that an elongated halftime, similar to the 24-minute break at the 2025 Club World Cup, would disrupt the players’ rhythm and cause them to cool down too much before the second half.
However, Spanish newspaper Marca reports it will not be as long as first feared, as they predict it will be 17 minutes long, which includes six minutes to assemble and dismantle the stage.
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By keeping the intermission at 17 minutes, the players will only have to wait two minutes longer than a standard halftime. Teams will still be able to utilize exercise bikes on the sideline to stay warm.
The ceremony will also celebrate each of the 48 teams who took part in this summer’s expanded tournament across 16 host cities and three host countries.
