FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Extended for Musical Performances

New York. The halftime of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, scheduled for Sunday night, will be longer than usual. According to the organizers, the interval is expected to be extended from 20 to 25 minutes. The final, to be held at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in New Jersey, will feature an 11-minute musical performance in the style of the 'Super Bowl' during the interval. World-renowned singers Madonna, Shakira, and the popular South Korean K-pop group BTS will perform jointly. According to FIFA-related sources, the halftime is likely to be around 20 minutes. However, another option suggests that after the regular 15-minute halftime of the game, an additional 11-minute musical program can be conducted. But, according to the game rules set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the interval given to the players should not exceed 15 minutes. In the Club World Cup final held in New Jersey last year, FIFA also extended the halftime to 24 minutes due to musical performances by Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emanuel Kelly. This time, Justin Bieber's name has also been added to the musical program. Along with Madonna, Shakira, and BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and PS22 Chorus will also perform. Coldplay's singer Chris Martin has coordinated the entire musical program. The World Cup final will start at 3:00 PM local time (12:45 AM Sunday night Nepali time). The closing ceremony will be held an hour and a half before that. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, Italian singer Laura Pausini, American singer Nicole Scherzinger, British singer Robbie Williams, and popular YouTuber iShowSpeed are scheduled to perform at the closing ceremony. The American national anthem will be sung by popular singer Jennifer Hudson. Spain and Argentina will compete for the World Cup final title.