Why the World Cup half-time show may be a taste of things to come

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Fifa’s 2026 World Cup final is set to feature the tournament’s first half-time show, bringing a major music spectacle into football’s biggest match. The final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber listed among the performers, and Burna Boy also due to appear in a show curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

The plan has prompted debate because the interval could run as long as 25 minutes, while the International Football Association Board says players are entitled to a maximum 15-minute half-time stoppage. The BBC says both BBC and ITV are expected to carry the full performance, with studio coverage used while staging is assembled and removed. Fifa has framed the event as a milestone combining sport, music and global impact, and says the artists are not being paid, with fundraising tied to an education fund.

Supporters of the idea argue that expectations around major live sport are changing. James Massing of Live Nation, whose team is producing the show, told the BBC that sports events are competing with other entertainment experiences and that music can make a final feel more significant. The article notes similar staging at last year’s Club World Cup final in New Jersey, as well as music around the Champions League, British Grand Prix and NFL international games.

Critics quoted by the BBC question whether football needs the added spectacle. Content creator Ellis Platten raised concerns about restlessness in stadiums and player welfare, while broadcaster Betty Glover said the World Cup has felt strongly shaped by American-style presentation. The wider issue is whether Fifa’s experiment becomes a model for other tournaments or remains a North American exception.