2026 World Cup final features extended halftime show at MetLife Stadium

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA confirmed that the halftime interval will last 17 minutes, which is two minutes longer than the tournament standard. Musical performances by Shakira, Madonna, and Justin Bieber will take place for 11 minutes of this period. An additional 6 minutes are allocated for stage setup, removal, and pitch maintenance, including watering the turf to address concerns regarding surface conditions. Although media reports initially speculated that the show might exceed 30 minutes, FIFA maintained the duration remains strictly limited. The event concludes a tournament featuring 48 national teams across three host countries, with US President Donald Trump expected to be in attendance. Scheduled performances also include appearances by Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger.