Events boss defends Fifa over extended World Cup half-time show

Open menu

OneFootball's home page

Settings

The Independent

15 July 2026

Fifa has been told it would have been "wasting the moment" if it had not extended the

World Cup final

interval on Sunday

to stage a half-time show

, according to a top global events boss.

The organisation has confirmed the 11-minute performance, featuring artists such as Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber,

will take place at MetLife Stadium.

However, reports suggest this show will cause the gap between the first and second halves to significantly exceed the 15 minutes stipulated by the sport’s laws.

Some observers have criticised the move, but Michael Gietzen, the chief executive officer of Identity, said: “Fifa is right to extend half-time and the people complaining are missing the point.

“Football has its own rhythm and its own rules and of course that matters. But a

World Cup

final isn’t ‘most of the time’.

“It happens once every four years, in front of the biggest audience any single sporting event can pull. Treating it like a normal weekend fixture is the mistake, not the half-time show.

“A good half-time show isn’t a distraction from the football. It’s part of the reason people remember exactly where they were when they watched it.

“A few extra minutes to get that right isn’t a compromise, it’s Fifa recognising that the final is a cultural event as much as a sporting one.

“Purists may call that a dilution. I’d call it Fifa catching up to what a decent proportion of audiences have wanted for years. A final like this comes round once every four years. Play it safe and you waste the moment.”

Chris Martin of Coldplay and Emmanuel Kelly perform during the halftime show during the Fifa Club

2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain (Getty)

ITV has said it will

broadcast the half-time show in full,

while it is understood the BBC will confirm its plans in due course.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has described the performance as a “groundbreaking spectacle” that will “celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle”.

It was also announced that Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, popstar Robbie Williams and US singer Jennifer Hudson will perform during the closing ceremony.

The event will take place 90 minutes before kick-off and will also feature performances from Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini and streamer IShowSpeed – with Hudson set to deliver a rendition of the US national anthem.

Argentina XI vs England: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest for World Cup 2026

Evening Standard

England v Argentina predicted line-ups: Who is set to start World Cup semi-final?

England v Argentina: bet365 World Cup Super Boost Today

OneFootball

Lamine Yamal’s home ‘targeted by burglars’ hours after Spain reach World Cup final

The World Cup Stars Return: Here’s How Bayern Is Planning Its Summer Training

FCBinside

Predicting which clubs the summer's biggest free agents will sign for

There are still some massive names who are set to become free agents in the summer, with some high-profile deals due to expire at the end of next month.As speculation...

Tottenham: Why James Maddison was not awarded a penalty against Leeds as Premier League issue statement

Spurs midfielder denied a big moment on his return from injuryThe Premier League has explained why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty in their draw against Leeds.As the clock ticked...

Bento's howler delays CR7's first title in Saudi Arabia 😱

An ugly mistake by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento prevented Al-Nassr from winning the Saudi League title this Tuesday.Cristiano Ronaldo’s team was leading 1-0 until the 53rd minute of the second half,...