TV rights holders say they’re growing frustrated with FIFA’s refusal to confirm how long the World Cup final half-time entertainment will last. With global performers booked—including Madonna, Shakira and BTS at MetLife Stadium—broadcasters worry the delay cou
At MetLife Stadium, the World Cup final is already being framed as more than a match break. Madonna. Shakira and the K-pop boyband BTS are booked for the first half-time spectacle at a World Cup final. curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. But for the people tasked with selling the minutes around that show. the uncertainty is turning into a problem they can’t simply edit out.
Multiple TV rights holders have grown increasingly frustrated at FIFA’s failure to confirm the length of the half-time show next month. Requests sent to FIFA for clarity have gone unanswered. and the knock-on effect is hitting commercial broadcasters in the most practical way: advertising teams need to plan inventory. and they can’t do that when the start and end of a fixed-looking interval remains “fluid.”.
There’s also a sense of déjà vu for those tracking how long breaks can stretch when entertainment runs long. Last year, Chris Martin surprised viewers with a performance at the same venue during the break in play at the Club World Cup final, and that interval lasted 24 minutes.
One rights holder source said the musical production is planned to last between 12 and 15 minutes. That aligns with the average length of the Super Bowl half-time show. But the production isn’t the only time factor—setup and removal of the stage could extend the interval between 25 and 30 minutes. according to the same source. For broadcasters and rights holders, that gap isn’t just a timing detail. It changes the schedule they have built. blocks they expected to run. and the order that must be handed to cameras and commercial partners.
The rules of the game don’t leave much room for improvisation. The laws overseen by the International Football Association Board state that players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes, and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.
FIFA has declined to confirm the length of half-time. One source described the situation as fluid. while the governing body has sharply increased the amount of pre-match entertainment at this World Cup. The shift is aimed at expectations of the American market in particular. with ceremonies and performances woven into the tournament’s early programming.
In each host country, the first games will feature opening ceremonies. Shakira and Burna Boy headline an extensive pre-match show before Mexico meet South Africa in the Azteca Stadium on Thursday. The same program is set to include Alejandro Fernández. Belinda. Danny Ocean. J Balvin. Lila Downs. Los Ángeles Azules. Maná and Tyla.
Toronto’s show before Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday will headline Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. Later that day. Katy Perry. Lisa. the Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema. the Brazilian pop artist Anitta and the hip-hop artist Future are booked to perform in Los Angeles before the US meet Paraguay.
All of that entertainment build-up might be designed to match a bigger American spotlight. But in the run-up to the World Cup final. what rights holders want most is still the same: an answer to the simplest question—how long will the players wait?. With advertising schedules tied to the clock and game laws tied to the referee. the lack of confirmation has turned a show element into a looming operational dispute.
World Cup final half-time show delay FIFA MetLife Stadium Madonna Shakira BTS Chris Martin Coldplay TV rights holders advertising inventory IFAB laws International Football Association Board