FIFA Sets Official 17-Minute Half-Time Break for 2026 World Cup Final

FIFA has officially announced that the half-time break during the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will last no longer than 17 minutes. This decision ends speculation that the break could extend beyond 30 minutes due to planned large-scale musical performances. The 17-minute break includes 11 minutes allocated for performances by Shakira, Madonna, and Justin Bieber, significantly shorter than many had anticipated.

The remaining six minutes will be used for quickly setting up and dismantling the stage and watering the pitch. The quality of the playing surface has been a concern, particularly for the Spanish team, who noted the dry and slow conditions in previous matches at the venue. Organizers also confirmed that the drinking break rules, implemented throughout the tournament due to high temperatures in North America, will remain unchanged for the final, with two hydration breaks during the match.

This arrangement aims to balance the entertainment aspect of the World Cup final with maintaining the sporting integrity of the match. The final is set to feature Spain and Argentina, with the event drawing global attention both for the football and the halftime show.

Summary: FIFA has confirmed the half-time break for the 2026 World Cup final will be 17 minutes, including 11 minutes of performances by major artists, ensuring a balance between entertainment and sport at MetLife Stadium.

Points: - FIFA limits 2026 World Cup final half-time to 17 minutes total. - Eleven minutes allocated for performances by Shakira, Madonna, and Justin Bieber. - Six minutes reserved for stage setup, dismantling, and pitch watering. - Spanish team expressed concerns over dry pitch conditions at MetLife Stadium. - Drinking break rules remain unchanged due to high North American temperatures. - The final will feature Spain versus Argentina.

Topic: sports israel_relevant: false Entities: {"people":["Shakira","Madonna","Justin Bieber","Gianni Infantino"],"organizations":["FIFA"],"places":["MetLife Stadium","New Jersey","North America","Spain","Argentina"]}