In a move that\u2019s stirring controversy, FIFA is set to extend the half-time break of the 2026 World Cup final to an extraordinary 25 to 30 minutes. This break, far longer than the usual 15 minutes, will feature a star-studded musical show including artists like Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Burna Boy, and Coldplay. While the official confirmation is still pending, sources such as *The Times* have revealed that the organization is preparing a spectacle that will disrupt the players\u2019 usual routines both before and during the match. <\/p>\n
This decision, announced ahead of the final scheduled for later this month, has raised concerns, especially from Spain\u2019s camp. Known for their high-tempo, possession-based style that wears down opponents, Spain could be affected by the extended rest period, which allows players significantly more time to recover\u2014something that challenges the traditional rules of football. <\/p>\n
FIFA\u2019s director of operations for the World Cup, Heimo Schirgi, framed the event as a cultural celebration: \u201cFollowing the spirit of the opening ceremonies that welcomed the world across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the closing ceremony will complete the circle of the 2026 World Cup through music, culture, and football, just before the highly anticipated match crowns the tournament\u2019s champions.\u201d <\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t the first time FIFA has pushed the boundaries of match protocols for entertainment. During last year\u2019s Club World Cup final, a 24-minute half-time show drew criticism from both Chelsea and PSG, as well as fans, though the outcome was less affected since the match was nearly decided by then. <\/p>\n
The referee assigned to the World Cup final must approve the extended break, but FIFA appears to have everything arranged for this unprecedented event. The organization is expected to provide detailed explanations in the coming days, likely sparking debates similar to those around hydration breaks\u2014another FIFA innovation that lengthens matches but opens lucrative advertising opportunities. <\/p>\n
For fans and players alike, this shift raises questions about the balance between sport and spectacle, and how such changes might influence the flow and fairness of the game. As the world watches, the 2026 final promises to be memorable not only for the football but also for the show FIFA is staging at its heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a move that\u2019s stirring controversy, FIFA is set to extend the half-time break of the 2026 World Cup final to an extraordinary 25 to 30 minutes. This break, far longer than the usual 15 minutes, will feature a star-studded musical show including artists like Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Burna Boy, and Coldplay. While […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-internacional"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3656,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3655\/revisions\/3656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topnews.mx\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}